Geospatial Assessment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) & Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) Opportunities in Brazil

This report is part of a broader study conducted by a multidisciplinary team from the Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Innovation at University of São Paulo (RCGI-USP), within the scope of Project 70, titled "Social Perception and Scientific Diplomacy on Technological Transitions towards a Low-Carbon Society (Applications Associated with NBS, CCU, GHG, and BECCS).“

The primary objective of the project is to understand and manage the formation and evolution of perceptions, attitudes, resistance, and other subjective characteristics among the Brazilian population regarding climate and technological issues for cleaner energy. This includes the perception of all stakeholders, from government representatives, policy makers, industry executives, investors, academia, media and civil society about the developments of applications associated with NBS (Nature-Based Solutions), CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage), GHG (Greenhouse Gases), and BECCS (Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage). 

Focusing on CCS and BECCS, the report acknowledges that global research and implementation of these technologies remain in development. Their feasibility and pace of adoption vary significantly by country, depending on local contexts. Nonetheless, CCS and BECCS are seen as essential for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors, including steel, cement, refineries, thermoelectric power, and biofuel production (CACHOLA et al., 2023).

In Brazil, the primary GHG emissions come from the Land Use Change and Forestry and Agriculture sectors. However, in certain locations, such as the State of São Paulo and State of Espírito Santo, industrial GHG emissions are significant. Hence, understanding the context of the country's GHG emissions, including its level of industrialization and energy mix, is crucial. Therefore, this report begins by contextualizing these analytical elements to contribute to a feasibility analysis of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and BECCS in Brazil.

Based on this premise and drawing from existing scientific literature on CCS and BECCS technology across various technological and geographic contexts, this study examines local GHG emissions by industrial sector, available transportation infrastructure, and Brazil's geological capacity to store carbon dioxide (CO2). Therefore, the primary aim of this report is to devise a methodology incorporating overlapping geographic and environmental data on GHG emissions, focusing on industrial emissions amenable to CCS technology for local decarbonisation in the Brazilian context. It then examines the historical, demographic, and territorial characteristics of these priority regions to support future analyses of local engagement and social acceptance.

The report ultimately proposes a methodology that overlays data layers of industrial GHG emissions, CO₂ transport infrastructure, and storage potential to empirically locate key hubs for CCS and BECCS deployment. It then explores the historical and demographic characteristics of these priority regions.