Publication Abstracts
Stenzel et al. 2019
Stenzel, F., D. Gerten, C. Werner, and , 2019: Freshwater requirements of large-scale bioenergy plantations for limiting global warming to 1.5°C. Environ. Res. Lett., 14, no. 8, 084001, doi:10.1088/1748-9326/ab2b4b.
Limiting mean global warming to well below 2°C will probably require substantial negative emissions (NEs) within the 21st century. To achieve these, bioenergy plantations with subsequent carbon capture and storage (BECCS) may have to be implemented at a large scale. Irrigation of these plantations might be necessary to increase the yield, which is likely to put further pressure on already stressed freshwater systems. Conversely, the potential of bioenergy plantations (BPs) dedicated to achieving NE through CO2 assimilation may be limited in regions with low freshwater availability. This paper provides a first-order quantification of the biophysical potentials of BECCS as a negative emission technology contribution to reaching the 1.5°C warming target, as constrained by associated water availabilities and requirements. Using a global biosphere model, we analyze the availability of freshwater for irrigation of BPs designed to meet the projected NE to fulfill the 1.5°C target, spatially explicitly on areas not reserved for ecosystem conservation or agriculture. We take account of the simultaneous water demands for agriculture, industries, and households and also account for environmental flow requirements (EFRs) needed to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. Furthermore, we assess to what extent different forms of improved water management on the suggested BPs and on cropland may help to reduce the freshwater abstractions. Results indicate that global water withdrawals for irrigation of BPs range between ∼400 and ∼3,000 km3/yr, depending on the scenario and the conversion efficiency of the carbon capture and storage process. Consideration of EFRs reduces the NE potential significantly, but can partly be compensated for by improved on-field water management.
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BibTeX Citation
@article{st03320z,
author={Stenzel, F. and Gerten, D. and Werner, C. and Jägermeyr, J.},
title={Freshwater requirements of large-scale bioenergy plantations for limiting global warming to 1.5°C},
year={2019},
journal={Environmental Research Letters},
volume={14},
number={8},
pages={084001},
doi={10.1088/1748-9326/ab2b4b},
}
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RIS Citation
TY - JOUR ID - st03320z AU - Stenzel, F. AU - Gerten, D. AU - Werner, C. AU - Jägermeyr, J. PY - 2019 TI - Freshwater requirements of large-scale bioenergy plantations for limiting global warming to 1.5°C JA - Environ. Res. Lett. JO - Environmental Research Letters VL - 14 IS - 8 SP - 084001 DO - 10.1088/1748-9326/ab2b4b ER -
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