Baars et al. (2025): Feasibility of subsurface storage of hydrochar in the Netherlands as carbon dioxide removal technique

Timothy F. Baars, Hemmo A. Abels, Anne-Catherine A.M. Dieudonné, Joachim B. Hanssler, Sebastian Geiger, IN: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2025.104539

Hydrothermal carbonisation enables the conversion of wet biomass into hydrochar, a carbon-rich solid with potential for durable carbon dioxide removal (CDR). While hydrochar has been studied extensively for topics as soil application or wastewater treatment, its role in subsurface storage remains underexplored. This study examines the feasibility of hydrochar-based biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) in the Netherlands, where abundant wet biomass and well-developed subsurface infrastructure offer a promising deployment context. The authors characterise the chemical and mechanical properties of manure-derived hydrochar and evaluate seven potential storage configurations, from abandoned coal mines to quarry lakes and lightweight fill applications, based on technical feasibility, environmental risk, and long-term containment.

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