Unleashing the combined potential of bio-based carbon dioxide removal in Germany’s path to net zero from the bioenergy system perspective

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is an essential measure for achieving national and international climate targets, complementing emission reductions. Germany aims for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2045 and net-negative emissions thereafter. Nonetheless, current deployment levels are still a far cry from what is needed. This study employs a comprehensive modeling approach to examine the regional deployment of bio-based CDR in Germany, integrating techno-economic and regional conditions. We focus on two key CDR approaches: technical and natural sinks, thereby coupling energy and non-energy sectors and providing a cross-sectoral view. The selected CDR concepts are implemented in the extended bioenergy optimization model (BENOPTex) to assess their deployment for achieving climate targets cost-effectively in Germany. Our analysis demonstrates that a co-deployment strategy of technical and natural sinks, as opposed to deploying solely technical sinks, can enhance overall CDR potential by at least 50% while cutting removal costs, achieving around ∼110 Mt CO2 removal annually by 2050.