Journal Article

FZJ-2018-06423

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Negative Emission Potential of Direct Air Capture Powered by Renewable Excess Electricity in Europe

Wohland, J. (Corresponding author)FZJ* ; Witthaut, D.FZJ* ; Schleussner, C.-F.

2018
Wiley-Blackwell Hoboken, NJ

This record in other databases:    

Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/20090  doi:10.1029/2018EF000954

Abstract: The mitigation of climate change requires fast reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and calls for fundamental transitions of energy systems. In most places, the increased exploitation of variable renewable sources (wind and solar) forms the backbone of these transitions. To remain consistent with the Paris Agreement temperature goals, negative emission technologies will likely be needed to achieve net zero emissions in the second half of the century. In integrated assessment models, negative emissions are typically realized through land‐based approaches. However, due to their coarse temporal and spatial resolution, such models might underestimate the potential of decentrally deployable and flexible technologies such as Direct Air Capture (DAC). Based on validated high‐resolution power generation time series, we show that DAC can extract CO2 from the atmosphere and facilitate the integration of variable renewables at the same time. It is a promising flexibility provider as it can be ramped within minutes. Our results show that negative emissions of up to 500 Mt CO2/year in Europe may be achievable by using renewable excess energy only. Electricity systems with high shares of volatile renewables will induce excess generation events during which electricity is cheap thereby lowering the operational costs of DAC. If investment costs can be sufficiently reduced, this may render very energy intensive but highly flexible technologies such as DAC viable.

---

Contributing Institute(s):

1. Systemforschung und Technologische Entwicklung (IEK-STE)

Research Program(s):

1. 153 - Assessment of Energy Systems – Addressing Issues of Energy Efficiency and Energy Security (POF3-153) (POF3-153)
2. VH-NG-1025 - Helmholtz Young Investigators Group "Efficiency, Emergence and Economics of future supply networks" (VH-NG-1025_20112014) (VH-NG-1025_20112014)
3. HITEC - Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and Climate Research (HITEC) (HITEC-20170406) (HITEC-20170406)

Appears in the scientific report 2018

---

Database coverage:
; ; ; ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DOAJ Seal ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection

---