SYNOPSIS

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) presents a promising pathway to achieve negative carbon emissions by combining biomass energy production with carbon capture technologies. The integration of advanced carbon capture solutions within biomass gasification systems enables not only renewable energy generation but also the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere, contributing significantly to climate mitigation goals. Green Environmental Engineering Sdn. Bhd. (GEE) has developed and demonstrated innovative technologies pivotal for future BECCS applications. We have designed a hundred-tonne biomass gasification system, coupled with a steam turbine generator, to exemplify a state-ofthe-art biomass conversion facility. This system efficiently converts widely available sustainable biomass feedstock into syngas through a fluidized bed gasifier operating at moderate temperature. The produced syngas, characterized by high concentrations of combustible gases (CO, H₂ and CH₄), fuels a boiler system that generates saturated steam to drive electricity production, thereby combining renewable power generation with process heat recovery.

For this next-generation BECCS system, GEE seamlessly integrates a high performance carbon capture unit known as the Matrix Flux Purification (MFP) system, which utilizes calcium looping technology with CaO/Al₂O₃ sorbents to capture CO₂ with over 90% efficiency. Unlike conventional capture methods, the MFP system offers simultaneous removal of multiple pollutants including but not limited to CO₂, SO₂, HCl and particulate matter in a single, energy-efficient modular unit. More importantly, the technology leverages industrial by-products (such as blast furnace slag from steel industry) for mineralizing CO₂, effectively locking it into stable carbonate forms that can be repurposed as sustainable construction materials. This closed-loop approach demonstrates circular economy principles by converting captured carbon and waste into valuable products, enhancing both environmental and economic viability.

The integration of carbon capture within the biomass gasification process capitalizes on waste heat and low-cost energy inputs, substantially reducing operational energy consumption and costs. The modular design of the MFP system supports scalability from pilot to large-scale implementations, with demonstrated energy efficiencies suitable for industrial integration. The designed gasification project has the potential to show promising performance, producing clean syngas with low emissions, minimal tar formation and reliable operational stability, while the carbon capture unit ensures significant CO₂ removal potential. BECCS deployment through this combined biomass gasification and carbon capture system not only addresses renewable energy demands but also enables negative emissions by sequestering atmospheric CO₂. The technology's scalability, cost competitiveness and environmental benefits make it a viable solution to decarbonize energy intensive sectors and contribute to achieving net-zero targets. Furthermore, the ability to generate renewable electricity alongside carbon sequestration enhances the system's attractiveness for sustainable industrial transformation.

In conclusion, the coupling of advanced biomass gasification with innovative calcium looping-based carbon capture technologies, as designed by GEE engineering team, provides a robust technical and commercial foundation for BECCS applications. This integrated approach offers a clear pathway to sustainable energy production combined with meaningful carbon dioxide removal, supporting global climate goals and advancing the circular economy

Speaker: Dr. Steven Lim

Steven Lim is a project and research director at Green Environmental Engineering Sdn Bhd. He is also an associate professor at the Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia. He obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in 2014. His research interests revolve around devising sustainable and cost-effective methods to synthesis renewable energy (biodiesel, bioethanol and syngas) and other value-added products (bioplastic, cellulose nanofiber and triacetin) from renewable sources such as biomass.