Energies, Vol. 19, Pages 355: Bio-Based Carbon Capture and Utilization Opportunities in Poland: A Preliminary Assessment

Energies, Vol. 19, Pages 355: Bio-Based Carbon Capture and Utilization Opportunities in Poland: A Preliminary Assessment

Energies doi: 10.3390/en19020355

Authors:
Magdalena Strojny
Paweł Gładysz
Amy Brunsvold
Aneta Magdziarz

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) play an increasingly important role in climate mitigation strategies by addressing industrial emissions and enabling pathways toward net-negative emissions. A key challenge lies in determining the pathway of captured CO2, whether through permanent geological storage or conversion into value-added products to enhance system viability. As hard-to-abate sectors and the power industry remain major sources of emissions, a comprehensive assessment of the technical, environmental, and economic performance of CCUS pathways is essential. This study evaluates bioenergy with carbon capture and storage/utilization (BECCUS) in the context of the Polish energy sector. Techno-environmental performance was assessed across three pathways: CO2 storage in saline formations, CO2 mineralization, and methanol synthesis. The results show levelized costs of 59.9 EUR/tCO2,in for storage, 109.7 EUR/tCO2,in for mineralization, and 631.1 EUR/tCO2,in for methanol production. Corresponding carbon footprints (including full chain emissions) were −936.4 kgCO2-eq/tCO2,in for storage, −460.6 kgCO2-eq/tCO2,in in for mineralization, and 3963.4 kgCO2-eq/tCO2,in for methanol synthesis. These values highlight the trade-offs between economic viability and climate performance across utilization and storage options. The analysis underscores the potential of BECCS to deliver net-negative emissions and supports strategic planning for CCUS deployment in Poland.