As part of their activities in NEGEM; researchers at the Imperial College of London are developing a software tool to generate member state-specific pathways for the deployment of negative emissions technologies and practices (NETPs) based on targets for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and geophysical constraints. In its current form, the software prototype offers the capacity to include multiple NETPs with different system dynamics in a general modelling framework to explore different modelling scenarios. The tool provides insights on deployment pathways and their overall performance as measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) related to cost and environmental impacts.
The types of NETPs included in the current prototype are afforestation, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), and enhanced weathering (EW). Additional types of NETPs such as biochar and soil carbon sequestration will be included as the modelling framework is undergoing further developments to allow for multiple key performance indicators to be evaluated.
Schematic of the BECCS supply chain, outlining the interactions between the sub-models used in the model prototype. Source
This tool together with other NEGEM outputs such as the NETPs database and bio-geophysics database, can be used to explore member state-specific CDR deployment under various constraints and to ultimately quantify the collective capability of EU Member States to contribute towards the global CDR budget. These scenario investigations provide insights into technology and policy barriers that constrain the deployment rate of NETPs, thus helping to develop targeted policy around process and technology intensification to mitigate any environmental and economic risks.
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