Market Potential for CO$_2$ Removal and Sequestration from Renewable Natural Gas Production in California

Abstract

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (BECCS) is critical for stringent climate change mitigation, but is commercially and technologically immature and resource-intensive. In California, state and federal fuel and climate policies can drive first-markets for BECCS. We develop a spatially explicit optimization model to assess niche markets for renewable natural gas (RNG) production with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) from waste biomass in California. Existing biomass residues produce biogas and RNG and enable low-cost CCS through the upgrading process and CO2 truck transport. Under current state and federal policy incentives, we could capture and sequester 2.9 million MT CO2/year (0.7% of California's 2018 CO2 emissions) and produce 93 PJ RNG/year (4% of California's 2018 natural gas demand) with a profit maximizing objective. Existing federal and state policies produce profits of $11/GJ. Distributed RNG production with CCS potentially catalyzes markets and technologies for CO2 capture, transport, and storage in California.