Climate change demands robust measures to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Among carbon dioxide removal approaches assessed in the literature, Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) has received particular attention. This study conducted a narrative literature review of an exploratory and descriptive nature, based on 16 unique articles selected from the ScienceDirect database. The objective was to analyze the role attributed to BECCS technology in the scientific literature within the context of Brazil’s energy transition. The results indicate that Brazil has favorable conditions for BECCS deployment, including extensive bioenergy production, especially ethanol, and geological storage potential. However, the literature also identifies high costs, regulatory barriers, infrastructure constraints, and ecological risks associated with biomass cultivation. Scenario studies reviewed here indicate that BECCS may provide negative emissions that compensate for residual emissions in hard-to-abate sectors and, in some modeled pathways, permit continued partial fossil-fuel use. Accordingly, the possibility that BECCS could be invoked to support continued oil and gas production is treated in this article as a governance risk rather than as an inevitable outcome. Net-negative performance remains conditional on sustainable biomass supply, lifecycle emissions, capture-energy requirements, transport emissions, and durable geological storage.
References
[1]
Araújo, I. L. et al. (2021). Costs and Benefits of Brazil’s Climate Policies on CCUS Business: Governmental Cases of How Institutional Changes Can Shape the Agent’s Behavior. In 15th International Conference on Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT-15) (12 p.). https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3811678
[2]
Babin, A., Vaneeckhaute, C., & Iliuta, M. C. (2021). Potential and Challenges of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage as a Carbon-Negative Energy Source: A Review. Biomass and Bioenergy, 146, Article ID: 105968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2021.105968
[3]
Beck, L. (2020). Carbon Capture and Storage in the USA: The Role of US Innovation Leadership in Climate-Technology Commercialization. Clean Energy, 4, 2-11.
[4]
Botelho, L. L. R., Cunha, C. C. D. A., & Macedo, M. (2011). O método da revis？o integrativa nos estudos organizacionais. Gest？o e Sociedade, 5, 121-136. https://doi.org/10.21171/ges.v5i11.1220
[5]
Brasil (2022). Projeto de Lei no 1425, de 2022. Disciplina a explora？？o da atividade de armazenamentopermanente de dióxido de carbono de interesse público, emreservatóriosgeológicosoutemporários, e seu posterior reaproveitamento. https://www25.senado.leg.br/web/atividade/materias/-/materia/153342
[6]
Brasil (2024a). Lei n. 14.993 de 8 de outubro de 2024. Disp？esobre a promo？？o da mobilidadesustentável de baixocarbono e a captura e a estocagemgeológica de dióxido de carbono; institui o Programa Nacional de CombustívelSustentável de Avia？？o (ProBioQAV), o Programa Nacional de Diesel Verde (PNDV) e o Programa Nacional de Descarboniza？？o do Produtor e Importador de Gás Natural e de IncentivoaoBiometano; altera as Leis nos 9.478, de 6 de agosto de 1997, 9.847, de 26 de outubro de 1999, 8.723, de 28 de outubro de 1993, e 13.033, de 24 de setembro de 2014; e revogadispositivo da Lei no 10.438, de 26 de abril de 2002. https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2023-2026/2024/lei/L14993.htm
[7]
Brasil (2024b). Contribui？？o Nacionalmente Determinada do BrasilaoAcordo de Paris-2024. Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudan？a do Clima. https://www.gov.br/mma/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/brasil-entrega-a-onu-nova-ndc-alinhada-ao-acordo-de-paris/ndc-versao-em-portugues.pdf/
[8]
Brick, S., & Thernstrom, S. (2016). Renewables and Decarbonization: Studies of California, Wisconsin and Germany. The Electricity Journal, 29, 6-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tej.2016.03.001
[9]
Canuto, L. T., & Oliveira, A. A. S. d. (2020). Métodos de revis？o bibliográfica nos estudos científicos. Psicologia em Revista, 26, 83-102. https://doi.org/10.5752/p.1678-9563.2020v26n1p82-100
[10]
CCS Institute (2016). Global Storage Portfolio: A Global Assessment of the Geological CO？ Storage Resource Potential. Global CCS Institute. https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Consoli_Global-CCS-Institue_2015_Global-Storage-Portfolio-1.pdf
[11]
CCS Institute (2025). Global Status of CCS 2025. https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/global-status-of-ccs/
[12]
CEBRI (Centro Brasileiro de Rela？？es Internacionais), BID (Banco Interamericano de Desenvolvimento), & EPE (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) (2023). CENERGIA Centro de Economia Energética e Ambiental. Programa de transi？？oenergética—Neutralidade de carbonoaté 2050: Cenários para umatransi？？oeficiente no Brasil. https://www.cebri.org/br/doc/309/neutralidade-de-carbono-ate-2050-cenarios-para-uma-transicao-eficiente-no-brasil
[13]
Coutinho, L. C., Império, M., Angelkorte, G., da Silva, G. N., Bergman-Fonte, C., Draeger, R. et al. (2024). Climate Strategies for Oil and Gas Production under the Lens of an Integrated Assessment Model: The Case of Brazil. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 137, Article ID: 104231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104231
[14]
Daniels, J. (2023). Carbon Capture & Storage, Carbon Capture & Utilisation: UNFCCC Mitigation Work Programme. Global CCS Institute. https://unfccc.int/documents/628911?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIg8rOhfzwiQMVUzRECB2AJgcSEAAYAyAAEgIgrfD_BwE
[15]
EPE (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) (2023). Captura e armazenamento de carbono: Um breve guiasobreuma das alternativas-chave para a transforma？？o do setor de óleo e gás no Brasil. https://www.epe.gov.br/sites-pt/publicacoes-dados-abertos/publicacoes/PublicacoesArquivos/publicacao-764/FS-EPE-DPG-SPG-01_2023-CCS_PT_BR_30ago23.pdf
[16]
EPE (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) (2024). Balan？oEnergético Nacional 2024: Síntese. EPE. https://www.epe.gov.br/sites-pt/publicacoes-dados-abertos/publicacoes/PublicacoesArquivos/publicacao-819/topico-715/BEN_S%C3%ADntese_2024_PT.pdf
[17]
Fridahl, M., & Lehtveer, M. (2018). Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS): Global Potential, Investment Preferences, and Deployment Barriers. Energy Research & Social Science, 42, 155-165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.03.019
[18]
Fuss, S., Lamb, W. F., Callaghan, M. W., Hilaire, J., Creutzig, F., Amann, T. et al. (2018). Negative Emissions—Part 2: Costs, Potentials and Side Effects. Environmental Research Letters, 13, Article ID: 063002. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aabf9f
[19]
Gaspar, H. A. C. (2014). Captura e Armazenamento de CO2. Disserta？？o de Mestrado, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa.
[20]
Grangeia, C., Santos, L., & Lazaro, L. L. B. (2022). The Brazilian Biofuel Policy (Renovabio) and Its Uncertainties: An Assessment of Technical, Socioeconomic and Institutional Aspects. Energy Conversion and Management: X, 13, Article ID: 100156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2021.100156
[21]
Hirose, A. T. (2024). Explora？？o e produ？？o de P&G no Brasil e perspectivasemrela？？o à transi？？oenergética. Trabalho de Conclus？o de Curso (Bacharelado em Gest？o Ambiental)—Escola de Artes, Ciências e Humanidades, Universidade de S？o Paulo, S？o Paulo.
[22]
Hof, A. F., Esmeijer, K., de Boer, H. S., Daioglou, V., Doelman, J. C., Elzen, M. G. J. d. et al. (2022). Regional Energy Diversity and Sovereignty in Different 2 °C and 1.5 °C Pathways. Energy, 239, Article ID: 122197. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2021.122197
[23]
IBP (Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo e Gás) (2024a). Tecnologias de captura e armazenamento de carbono (CCUS) e suaimportancia para a transi？？oenergética no Brasil. IBP. https://www.ibp.org.br/personalizado/uploads/2024/05/tecnologias-ccus-no-brasil-portugues.pdf
[24]
IBP (Instituto Brasileiro de Petróleo e GáS) (2024b). Caminhos para a descarboniza？？o. IBP. https://www.ibp.org.br/personalizado/uploads/2024/05/caminhos-para-a-descarbonizacao-portugues.pdf
[25]
IEA (International Energy Agency) (2020a). CCUS in Clean Energy Transitions. https://www.iea.org/reports/ccus-in-clean-energy-transitions?
[26]
IEA (International Energy Agency) (2020b). CCUS in Clean Energy Transitions: Special Report on Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage. IEA. https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/181b48b4-323f-454d-96fb-0bb1889d96a9/CCUS_in_clean_energy_transitions.pdf
[27]
IPCC (2014). Climate Change 2014: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press.
[28]
IPCC (2018a). Summary for Policymakers. In V. Masson-Delmotte, et al. (Eds.), Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the Impacts of Global Warming of 1.5°C above Pre-Industrial Levels and Related Global Greenhouse Gas Emission Pathways, in the Context of Strengthening the Global Response to the Threat of Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Efforts to Eradicate Poverty (pp. 1-24). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009157940.001
[29]
IPCC (2018b). Mitigation Pathways Compatible with 1.5？C in the Context of Sustainable Development. In V. Masson-Delmotte, et al. (Eds.), Global warming of 1.5？ C. An IPCC Special Report on the Impacts of Global Warming of 1.5？ C above Pre-Industrial Levels and Related Global Greenhouse Gas Emission Pathways, in the Context of Strengthening the Global Response to the Threat of Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Efforts to Eradicate Poverty (112 p.). IPCC. https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sr15/mitigation-pathways-compatible-with-1-5c-in-the-context-of-sustainable-4-development/
[30]
IPCC (2021a). Resumen para responsables de políticas. In V. Masson-Delmotte, (Eds.), Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (280 p.). Cambridge University Press.
[31]
IPCC (2021b). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
[32]
IPCC (2022). Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Contribution of Working Group III to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
[33]
IPCC (2023). Sumário para Formuladores de Políticas. In H. Lee, & J. Romero (Eds.), Mudan？a do Clima 2023: RelatórioSíntese. Contribui？？o dos Grupos de Trabalho I, II e III para o Sexto Relatório de Avalia？？o do PainelIntergovernamentalsobreMudan？a do Clima (pp. 1-34). IPCC.
[34]
Kemper, J. (2015). Biomass and Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage: A Review. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 40, 401-430. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2015.06.012
[35]
Ketzer, J. M. M. et al. (2016). Atlas brasileiro de captura e armazenamentogeológico de CO2. Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul.
[36]
Koytsoumpa, E. I., Magiri-Skouloudi, D., Karellas, S., & Kakaras, E. (2021). Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Utilization: A Review on the Potential Deployment Towards a European Circular Bioeconomy. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 152, Article ID: 111641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111641
[37]
Krey, V., Luderer, G., Clarke, L., & Kriegler, E. (2014). Getting from Here to There—Energy Technology Transformation Pathways in the EMF27 Scenarios. Climatic Change, 123, 369-382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0947-5
[38]
Kriegler, E., Weyant, J. P., Blanford, G. J., Krey, V., Clarke, L., Edmonds, J. et al. (2014). The Role of Technology for Achieving Climate Policy Objectives: Overview of the EMF 27 Study on Global Technology and Climate Policy Strategies. Climatic Change, 123, 353-367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0953-7
[39]
Lap, T., Benders, R., van der Hilst, F., & Faaij, A. (2023). BECCS as Climate Mitigation Option in a Brazilian Low Carbon Energy System: Estimating Potential and Effect of Gigatonne Scale CO2 Storage. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 128, Article ID: 103945. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2023.103945
[40]
Lima, L. J. B., & Hamzagic, M. (2022). Estratégias para a transi？？o energética: revis？o de literatura. RevistaCientíficaMultidisciplinarNúcleo do Conhecimento, 8, 96-120. https://doi.org/10.32749/nucleodoconhecimento.com.br/engenharia-ambiental/transicao-energetica
[41]
Magneschi, G., Zhang, T., & Munson, R. (2017). The Impact of CO2 Capture on Water Requirements of Power Plants. Energy Procedia, 114, 6337-6347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.1770
[42]
Mantulet, G., Bidaud, A., & Mima, S. (2020). The Role of Biomass Gasification and Methanisation in the Decarbonisation Strategies. Energy, 193, Article ID: 116737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2019.116737
[43]
Mileva, A., Johnston, J., Nelson, J. H., & Kammen, D. M. (2016). Power System Balancing for Deep Decarbonization of the Electricity Sector. Applied Energy, 162, 1001-1009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.10.180
[44]
MME/EPE (2020). Ministério de Minas e Energia—Secretaria de Planejamento e DesenvolvimentoEnergético/Empresa de Pesquisa Energética. PNE—Plano Nacional de Energia 2050. MME/EPE. https://www.epe.gov.br/pt/publicacoes-dados-abertos/publicacoes/Plano-Nacional-de-Energia-2050
[45]
Moe, E., & S. R？ttereng, J. (2018). The Post-Carbon Society: Rethinking the International Governance of Negative Emissions. Energy Research & Social Science, 44, 199-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.04.031
[46]
Moreira, J. R., Romeiro, V., Fuss, S., Kraxner, F., & Pacca, S. A. (2016). BECCS Potential in Brazil: Achieving Negative Emissions in Ethanol and Electricity Production Based on Sugar Cane Bagasse and Other Residues. Applied Energy, 179, 55-63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2016.06.044
[47]
Netto, A. L. A., Camara, G., Rocha, E., Silva, A. L., Andrade, J. C. S., Peyerl, D. et al. (2020). A First Look at Social Factors Driving CCS Perception in Brazil: A Case Study in the Rec？ncavo Basin. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 98, Article ID: 103053. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2020.103053
[48]
Nijsen, M., Smeets, E., Stehfest, E., & van Vuuren, D. P. (2012). An Evaluation of the Global Potential of Bioenergy Production on Degraded Lands. GCB Bioenergy, 4, 130-147. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1757-1707.2011.01121.x
Petrobras (2023b). Petrobras bate recordéanualemcaptura, uso e armazenamento de CO2. https://agencia.petrobras.com.br/pt/w/petrobras-bate-recorde-anual-em-captura-uso-e-armazenamento-de-co2
[51]
Poggio, M., Império, M., Baptista, L. B., Schaeffer, R., Lucena, A. F. P., Szklo, A. et al. (2024). The Role of Bioenergy in Brazil’s Low-Carbon Future. Energy and Climate Change, 5, Article ID: 100123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egycc.2023.100123
[52]
Rifkin, J. (2012). A Terceira revolu？？o industrial—Como o poder lateral estátransformando a energia, economia e mundo. M.Books do Brasil Editora Ltda.
[53]
Rochedo, P. R. R., Costa, I. V. L., Império, M., Hoffmann, B. S., Merschmann, P. R. D. C., Oliveira, C. C. N. et al. (2016). Carbon Capture Potential and Costs in Brazil. Journal of Cleaner Production, 131, 280-295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.05.033
[54]
Rogelj, J., Shindell, D., Jiang, K. et al. (2018). Mitigation Pathways Compatible with 1.5°C in the Context of Sustainable Development. In V. Masson-Delmotte (Eds.), Global Warming of 1.5°C (82 p.). IPCC.
[55]
Salas, D. A., Boero, A. J., & Ramirez, A. D. (2024). Life Cycle Assessment of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage: A Review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 199, Article ID: 114458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114458
[56]
Silva, F. T. F. D., Carvalho, F. M., Corrêa Jr., J. L. G., Merschmann, P. R. D. C., Tagomori, I. S., Szklo, A., & Schaeffer, R. (2017). CO？ Capture in Ethanol Distilleries in Brazil: Designing the Optimum Carbon Transportation Network by Integrating Hubs, Pipelines and Trucks. International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Amsterdam, 58, 164-177.
[57]
Silveira, B. H. M. (2023). Instrumentos de políticaambiental para a promo？？o de BECCS: revis？osistemática da literatura e caminhos para oBrasil. Universidade de S？o Paulo. Disserta？？o apresentada ao Programa de Pós-gradu？？o em Energia. https://repositorio.usp.br/item/003323063
[58]
Smith, S., Geden, O., Nemet, G., Gidden, M., Lamb, W., Powis, C., Bellamy, R., Callaghan, M., Cowie, A., & Cox, E. (2023). The State of Carbon Dioxide Removal. https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/id/eprint/19787/1/The-State-of-Carbon-Dioxide-Removal-2Edition.pdf
[59]
Tanzer, S. E., Blok, K., & Ramírez, A. (2021). Decarbonising Industry via BECCS: Promising Sectors, Challenges, and Techno-Economic Limits of Negative Emissions. Current Sustainable/Renewable Energy Reports, 8, 253-262. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40518-021-00195-3
[60]
Tiwari, T., Kaur, G. A., Singh, P. K., Balayan, S., Mishra, A., & Tiwari, A. (2024). Emerging Bio-Capture Strategies for Greenhouse Gas Reduction: Navigating Challenges Towards Carbon Neutrality. Science of The Total Environment, 929, Article ID: 172433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172433
[61]
UN (2015). Paris Agreement: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
[62]
UNFCCC (2023). First Global Stocktake. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int
[63]
Vergragt, P. J., Markusson, N., & Karlsson, H. (2011). Carbon Capture and Storage, Bio-Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage, and the Escape from the Fossil-Fuel Lock-In. Global Environmental Change, 21, 282-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.01.020
[64]
Williams, J. H., DeBenedictis, A., Ghanadan, R., Mahone, A., Moore, J., Morrow, W. R. et al. (2012). The Technology Path to Deep Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cuts by 2050: The Pivotal Role of Electricity. Science, 335, 53-59. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1208365
