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Carbon dioxide removal is crucial for moderating the rapid pace of power sector transformation, while electrification can reduce the emission intensity of the carbon removal process. Here, we use a multisector model to explore the impact of varying levels of CO2 removal (1 to 10 gigatonnes CO2 per year) on the electricity sector by 2050 under 1. 5 °C and 2 °C future warming. Our results show that under high CO2 removal pathways, up to 5% of electricity consumption could be dedicated to removing CO2. Limited CO2 removal by 2050 could increase asset stranding costs by US165-225 billion in fossil-intensive countries like China, the US, and India. Also, a 15% additional mitigation of committed emissions in the power sector would be needed under constrained CO2 removal pathways. While a high CO2 removal future is key to alleviating the burden of power sector transformation, it carries the risk of increased committed emissions. Careful planning is required to balance a less disruptive transformation without compromising climate targets. Carbon dioxide removal can minimize the scale of asset stranding in the power sector but at a risk of increased committed emissions under 1. 5° and 2° climate targets, according to a multi-sector model analysis of six carbon removal technologies.
Afrane et al. (Sat,) studied this question.