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Greenhouse gas emission curves for advanced biofuel supply chains

Author

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  • Vassilis Daioglou

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
    Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University)

  • Jonathan C. Doelman

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency)

  • Elke Stehfest

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency)

  • Christoph Müller

    (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research)

  • Birka Wicke

    (Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University)

  • Andre Faaij

    (Energy Sustainability Research Institute Groningen (ESRIG), University of Groningen)

  • Detlef P. van Vuuren

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
    Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University)

Abstract

Most climate change mitigation scenarios that are consistent with the 1.5–2 °C target rely on a large-scale contribution from biomass, including advanced (second-generation) biofuels. However, land-based biofuel production has been associated with substantial land-use change emissions. Previous studies show a wide range of emission factors, often hiding the influence of spatial heterogeneity. Here we introduce a spatially explicit method for assessing the supply of advanced biofuels at different emission factors and present the results as emission curves. Dedicated crops grown on grasslands, savannahs and abandoned agricultural lands could provide 30 EJBiofuel yr−1 with emission factors less than 40 kg of CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions per GJBiofuel (for an 85-year time horizon). This increases to 100 EJBiofuel yr−1 for emission factors less than 60 kgCO2e GJBiofuel −1. While these results are uncertain and depend on model assumptions (including time horizon, spatial resolution, technology assumptions and so on), emission curves improve our understanding of the relationship between biofuel supply and its potential contribution to climate change mitigation while accounting for spatial heterogeneity.

Suggested Citation

  • Vassilis Daioglou & Jonathan C. Doelman & Elke Stehfest & Christoph Müller & Birka Wicke & Andre Faaij & Detlef P. van Vuuren, 2017. "Greenhouse gas emission curves for advanced biofuel supply chains," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(12), pages 920-924, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:7:y:2017:i:12:d:10.1038_s41558-017-0006-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-017-0006-8
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alexandre C. Köberle & Vassilis Daioglou & Pedro Rochedo & André F. P. Lucena & Alexandre Szklo & Shinichiro Fujimori & Thierry Brunelle & Etsushi Kato & Alban Kitous & Detlef P. Vuuren & Roberto Scha, 2022. "Can global models provide insights into regional mitigation strategies? A diagnostic model comparison study of bioenergy in Brazil," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(1), pages 1-31, January.
    2. van Zuijlen, Bas & Zappa, William & Turkenburg, Wim & van der Schrier, Gerard & van den Broek, Machteld, 2019. "Cost-optimal reliable power generation in a deep decarbonisation future," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Florian Leblanc & Ruben Bibas & Silvana Mima & Matteo Muratori & Shogo Sakamoto & Fuminori Sano & Nico Bauer & Vassilis Daioglou & Shinichiro Fujimori & Matthew J. Gidden & Estsushi Kato & Steven K. R, 2022. "The contribution of bioenergy to the decarbonization of transport: a multi-model assessment," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 170(3), pages 1-21, February.
    4. Ajay Gambhir & Isabela Butnar & Pei-Hao Li & Pete Smith & Neil Strachan, 2019. "A Review of Criticisms of Integrated Assessment Models and Proposed Approaches to Address These, through the Lens of BECCS," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-21, May.
    5. M.J. Mace & Claire L. Fyson & Michiel Schaeffer & William L. Hare, 2021. "Large‐Scale Carbon Dioxide Removal to Meet the 1.5°C Limit: Key Governance Gaps, Challenges and Priority Responses," Global Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, vol. 12(S1), pages 67-81, April.
    6. Daioglou, Vassilis & Mikropoulos, Efstratios & Gernaat, David & van Vuuren, Detlef P., 2022. "Efficiency improvement and technology choice for energy and emission reductions of the residential sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    7. Weiwei Wang, 2022. "Agricultural and Forestry Biomass for Meeting the Renewable Fuel Standard: Implications for Land Use and GHG Emissions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-21, November.
    8. Benes, Ondrej & Janda, Karel, 2022. "Environmental Dimensions of Biofuels," EconStor Preprints 259403, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    9. Lorenzo Di Lucia & Barbara Ribeiro, 2018. "Enacting Responsibilities in Landscape Design: The Case of Advanced Biofuels," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-15, November.

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