Biomass energy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): a review

This is a review paper intended to provide an overview of debates relating to BECCS or bio-CCS, which are alternative terms for the coupling of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (CCS). The principal rationale for BECCS is that whereas the current atmospheric concentration of CO2 is more than 380ppmv and rising, achieving the European policy aspiration of not exceeding a global temperature rise of 2?C is likely to require atmospheric concentrations of below 350ppmv CO2e. In theory, BECCS has the potential to help draw the atmospheric CO2 concentration below present levels, or at least to contribute to its reduction.