The Deployment Task will have three core areas of operation which include both Intertask and Task projects considering the various biobased value chains, markets, and applications, and sees itself as “horizontal” among IEA Bioenergy Tasks. Moreover Task 40 has established successful collaboration with other IEA TCPs and intends to consolidate and intensify the collaboration in the next triennium (cross-TCP collaboration). The triennium work will be structured in three work packages:
WP1 Setting up and deployment of biogenic carbon value chains (e.g. structure, transitions, resilience)
Task 40 continues the focus on strategies to develop resilient and sustainable bioenergy supply chains. The scope will be expanded to encompass value creation throughout the supply chain, focusing specifically on the role of (biogenic) carbon. The work is divided into two objectives:
WP 1.1 Roadmap for biogenic carbon value chains. Strategies for value creation will be explored along the entire value chain. Next to costs, these strategies will focus on value creation by carbon mitigation or storage. These include carbon storage in vegetation in soils from biomass production, minimising carbon intensities through value chain efficiency improvements, integration options with non-carbon renewable carriers (renewable hydrogen and electricity), and carbon capture options.
WP 1.2 Case studies of defossilising carbon in industry. Case studies (tbd) will be used to illustrate the value-added created by biogenic carbon based on real-world examples. They will include, amongst others, highly carbonised biomass, including torrefaction, to replace fossil energy carriers in industries and biogenic carbon storage and recycling through lignin, produced in biorefineries, or kraft pulp, blended in asphalts to replace fossil bitumen.
WP2 BECCUS applications and projects deployment
WP 2.1 Showcasing Task 40 BECCUS projects – BECCUS technologies, concepts and value chains. The implementation of initial BECCS and BECCU projects has become the subject of serious consideration within governments and private actors in the past two years. The number of activities and projects is on the rise. This trend is to be expected to continue, and we will see more projects of this kind. Within this work package, guidance on the actual realisation of BECCUS technologies deployment will be given. Two types of BECCUS deployment categories will be looked into: 1) first-of-its-kind projects – the whole project realisation from the preparatory phase to launching the carbon capture facility (permissions, construction, etc.) to the storage infrastructure and side, and 2) investigating developments that pave the way for BECCUS deployment in certain regions in the world. For showcasing current activities, case studies, where Task 40 members are currently involved in, will be presented.
WP 2.2 Continued BECCUS Intertask Project (ITP) 3.0 – carbon management around BECCUS. Opportunities for collaboration with other IEA Bioenergy TCP Tasks on bioenergy with carbon capture and use (BECCU) and with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) were identified and Task 40 will continue as the central task for the ongoing BECCUS / carbon management aspects. Task 40 sees its role in leading this activity and strongly contributing from a deployment perspective. Topics will cover various aspects of BECCS, BECCU, and sustainable carbon cycles, ensuring a holistic understanding of their potential in achieving long-term climate goals.
WP3 Biogenic circular carbon economy
WP 3.1 Analysis of resilience of new biogenic carbon value chains. The flexibility and resilience of biogenic carbon value chains to changes in policy, market or availability of resources will be examined. The circularity of the biogenic carbon value chains is designed to integrate components from feedstock production to product end-of-life and assume that each necessary component will be available when needed. All systems face disruptions and must be adaptable to changing conditions that may negatively affect performance. This project will utilise developed value chain designs to examine threats and define mitigation strategies across the broad segments of the value chain contained within 1) feedstock production, 2) pre-processing and material merchandising, 3) production of consumer products, and 4) biogenic carbon storage and recycling. The findings will provide strategic guidance and decision support for the establishment and deployment of biogenic carbon value chains.