As the hydrogen bubble deflates, what are the alternatives? We present a "minimal methanol economy": using methanol as a gap-filler for the few sectors electrification can't reach.

New working paper together with Philipp Glaum, @fneum.bsky.social, @millinger.bsky.social:

arxiv.org/abs/2505.09277

✈️🚢🧪For Europe's green fuels for aviation, shipping, and chemicals: Should we pipeline H₂ to industrial CO₂ capture sites, or CO₂ to regions with better renewable resources for H₂ production?

📖 See our new study in @natureenergy.bsky.social on future carbon management: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Thanks Felix, yes I agree with you, going forward. I'll take a look at the studies you posted!

We include spatial detail for biomass on the country level. Hope you enjoy the read, and happy to discuss!

Policy Brief ¦ Biomass exclusion must be weighed against benefits of carbon supply in European energy system. @millinger.bsky.social

New research by @millinger.bsky.social and team highlights the primary value of biomass use under stringent emissions targets to be as a renewable carbon source for chemicals, fuels and negative emissions. https://bit.ly/40N6qIg

Thank you Marta! I'm happy to discuss it.
Have a nice weekend!

That is great! I haven't seen an IAM study with e-fuels/CCU yet though, are they out yet?

Thanks for sharing our study Adrian!

Renewable carbon can also be sequestered for negative emissions.

Among the challenges: key technologies such as BECCUS and DACCUS have yet to take off, and not all biomass is sustainably sourced today. But I don't see how it would take off without subsidies in waiting for a reliable carbon market.

Thank you Roger, hope you enjoy the read!

Thank you Jonas!

We used the state-of-the-art open-source European energy systems model PyPSA-Eur to analyse near-optimal solution spaces. Co-authors: Fredrik Hedenus, Elisabeth Zeyen @lisaze.bsky.social, Fabian Neumann @fneum.bsky.social, Lina Reichenberg and Göran Berndes.

➡️ Policy support for sustainable biomass use alongside emerging technologies reduces energy system costs and the risk of missing emissions targets.

We used the state-of-the-art open-source European energy systems model PyPSA-Eur to analyse near-optimal solution spaces. Co-authors: Fredrik Hedenus, Elisabeth Zeyen @lisaze.bsky.social, Fabian Neumann @fneum.bsky.social, Lina Reichenberg and Göran Berndes.

🔹 Bioenergy with carbon capture is more cost-competitive than DAC under a wide range of assumptions. This may inhibit DAC deployment unless it is targeted by policy.

🔹 Policies limiting biomass (residue) use likely need to be accompanied by strong policies to support a greater deployment of clean electricity, electrolytic hydrogen and direct air capture to achieve emissions targets.

🔹 Excluding biomass increases energy system costs by ~20% under a net-negative emissions target, like excluding wind power or electrolytic hydrogen.

Highlights:
🔹 The main value of biomass is to provide renewable carbon, rather than bioenergy. It is less central what biomass is used for if carbon is captured for reuse or sequestration.

🚨 New Article and Policy Brief in Nature Energy 🚨

📄We examine the value of biomass in the European energy system and its interplay with other technologies under stringent emissions scenarios.

🔗 Article: doi.org/10.1038/s415...
🔗 Policy Brief: doi.org/10.1038/s415...

@natureenergy.bsky.social