Harvesting Carbon-Negative Energy from Heartland Resources
Explore the TechnologyImagine a power plant that actually removes more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than it releases—a facility that generates electricity while steadily cleansing the air of carbon dioxide.
This isn't science fiction; it's the promise of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), a technology that could transform the Upper Missouri River Basin into a carbon-negative powerhouse. As this region spanning parts of Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska faces climate challenges affecting its iconic river system, BECCS offers a surprising solution that turns agricultural residues, energy crops, and forest waste into tools for atmospheric restoration.
The concept is as elegant as it is powerful: plants naturally absorb CO₂ as they grow, then we capture the carbon dioxide released when using this biomass for energy, preventing it from returning to the atmosphere.
The result? Net-negative emissions that actively reduce the concentration of greenhouse gases warming our planet . For the Upper Missouri River Basin, with its abundant agricultural lands and unique geological formations, this technology represents more than just clean energy—it's an opportunity to pioneer a climate solution that could simultaneously boost rural economies and create a more sustainable future.
Removes more CO₂ than it emits
Agricultural and forestry residues
Permanent underground sequestration
At its core, Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) combines two well-established processes: bioenergy production and carbon capture technology. The genius lies in how these elements work together to create a system with negative emissions.
BECCS creates a one-way carbon flow: carbon moves from the atmosphere into plants, then into our energy system, and finally deep into the earth where it can no longer contribute to climate change.
Plants absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere through photosynthesis as they grow, acting as natural carbon sinks.
Biomass is converted into energy (electricity, heat, or biofuels) through combustion, fermentation, or gasification.
CO₂ released during energy conversion is captured using specialized technologies before it can enter the atmosphere.
Captured CO₂ is compressed, transported, and injected deep underground into secure geological formations for permanent storage.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has identified this carbon removal technology as potentially critical in mitigation pathways compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5°C 1 .
Estimates suggest BECCS could remove between 0.5 and 22 gigatons of CO₂ annually by 2050—a significant portion of our current global emissions 1 .
Carbon capture technology forms the engineering backbone of BECCS, and researchers have developed three primary methods to intercept CO₂ before it escapes to the atmosphere.
This approach separates CO₂ from the other gases in the flue gas stream AFTER biomass has been burned.
Key Advantage: It can be retrofitted to existing power plants, making it a practical solution for near-term implementation.
Modern post-combustion systems can capture approximately 95% of the CO₂ emissions .
This method captures carbon BEFORE burning the fuel. Biomass first undergoes gasification.
Key Advantage: Produces clean hydrogen as a byproduct, which can be used as a carbon-free fuel.
This process converts biomass to syngas, then captures CO₂ before combustion .
In this process, biomass is burned in a mixture of oxygen and recycled flue gas instead of ordinary air.
Key Advantage: Eliminates nitrogen from flue gas, resulting in a nearly pure stream of CO₂.
The water vapor is easily removed by condensation, leaving high-purity CO₂ ready for storage .
| Technology | Capture Point | Key Advantage | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Post-combustion | After burning | Retrofits existing plants | ~95% |
| Pre-combustion | Before burning | Produces clean hydrogen | ~85% |
| Oxy-fuel | During burning | High-purity CO₂ stream | ~87.5% |
While large-scale BECCS deployment in the Upper Missouri River Basin remains in the future, we can look to a pioneering project in the American heartland to understand how this technology works in practice.
The Illinois Industrial Carbon Capture and Storage (IL-CCS) project in Decatur, Illinois, represents one of the world's first successful industrial-scale BECCS implementations .
The facility converts corn—grown on surrounding agricultural lands—into ethanol through fermentation. This process generates a nearly pure stream of CO₂ as a byproduct.
Instead of being released to the atmosphere, the CO₂ from fermentation is captured and compressed into a supercritical fluid—a dense state where it behaves like both a liquid and a gas.
The compressed CO₂ is transported via pipeline to the injection site.
Using specialized high-pressure pumps, the CO₂ is injected deep underground into the Mount Simon Sandstone, a saline formation located approximately 7,000 feet beneath the surface.
An extensive network of sensors tracks the injected CO₂ to ensure it remains securely contained within the storage formation .
The IL-CCS project has achieved remarkable success. Between 2011 and 2014, the pilot phase safely captured and stored one million tonnes of CO₂ without any detected leakage from the injection zone. Building on this success, Phase 2 launched in 2017 with expanded capacity .
| Metric | Pilot Phase Results | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| CO₂ Injected | 1 million tonnes | Proves technical feasibility at scale |
| Monitoring Method | Seismic, pressure, and chemical sensors | Ensures storage integrity |
| Leakage Detected | None | Confirms geological security |
| Storage Formation | Mount Simon Sandstone | Validates saline formations as viable storage |
The significance of these results cannot be overstated. They demonstrate that geological sequestration can securely contain CO₂ on meaningful timescales, addressing a major concern about carbon storage technologies.
Furthermore, the project has shown that BECCS can be successfully integrated into existing biofuel production facilities—a highly relevant finding for the Upper Missouri River Basin with its growing bioeconomy.
Advancing BECCS technology requires specialized materials, monitoring equipment, and research tools. Here are the key components that scientists are using to develop and refine this carbon-negative technology.
Produces high-purity oxygen essential for oxy-fuel combustion systems
CaptureChemically binds with CO₂ to enable post-combustion capture from flue gases
CaptureDetect underground vibrations to monitor CO₂ movement in storage formations
MonitoringConvert solid biomass to syngas as a core component of pre-combustion systems
ConversionSimulate underground conditions to test CO₂-rock-water interactions
StorageModels environmental impacts to evaluate net carbon balance and sustainability
Analysis| Tool/Resource | Primary Function | Application in BECCS Research |
|---|---|---|
| Air Separation Unit | Produces high-purity oxygen | Essential for oxy-fuel combustion systems |
| Amine-based Solvents | Chemically binds with CO₂ | Enables post-combustion capture from flue gases |
| Geological Seismic Sensors | Detect underground vibrations | Monitors CO₂ movement in storage formations |
| Gasifiers | Convert solid biomass to syngas | Core component of pre-combustion systems |
| Saline Formation Brine Samples | Simulate underground conditions | Tests CO₂-rock-water interactions for storage security |
| Life Cycle Assessment Software | Models environmental impacts | Evaluates net carbon balance and sustainability |
The Upper Missouri River Basin possesses distinctive characteristics that make it particularly suitable for BECCS deployment, while also presenting special considerations that must be addressed.
The region's extensive agricultural lands could provide substantial biomass resources without necessarily competing with food production.
The Upper Missouri River Basin sits above portions of the Williston Basin, which contains extensive porous rock formations overlain by impermeable caprocks—ideal geological conditions for CO₂ storage.
Research indicates that using regional biomass resources strategically could generate carbon-negative electricity with a carbon intensity of -2,500 g CO₂e/kWh—far better than even solar or wind power which have positive (though low) carbon footprints 2 .
Biomass cultivation requires water, which must be carefully managed in a region where water scarcity can already be an issue 1 .
While energy crops can be grown on marginal lands, there are valid concerns about competition with food production or conservation areas if not properly managed 1 .
Current cost estimates for BECCS range from $60-250 per ton of CO₂ captured, making significant cost reductions or policy support necessary for widespread deployment .
Developing the necessary capture equipment, pipelines, and injection wells represents a substantial investment.
For the Upper Missouri River Basin, BECCS represents more than just a climate solution—it's an opportunity to transform the regional economy while addressing environmental challenges.
With its combination of extensive agricultural resources, suitable geology, and existing energy infrastructure, the basin could potentially become a national leader in carbon-negative energy.
Ongoing research focuses on improving the efficiency of carbon capture systems and developing biomass sources with lower water and fertilizer requirements 1 .
The future of BECCS will depend on supportive policies that recognize the value of carbon removal and thoughtful engagement with local communities.
We may see integrated BECCS facilities that combine various approaches—using agricultural waste for power generation while producing biofuels for hard-to-electrify sectors.
If these elements align, this historic river system could become synonymous not just with America's natural heritage, but with its climate restoration future as well.