Enhanced weathering and biochar can contribute over 50% of carbon removal while reducing costs and resource depletion in China

Carbon removal technologies (CDRs) may play a crucial role in achieving China’s carbon neutrality target, especially given the relative fast period between the emission peak and the net-zero goal (less than 35 years). However, current deployment of CDRs falls significantly behind that suggested by model-based scenarios. These scenarios typically focus on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air capture and storage (DACCS) and reforestation, but at this stage only the latter plays a major role in near-term mitigation efforts. In this study, we use the GCAM-China model to explore a wider set of CDR options (including biochar and enhanced weathering, (EW)) to explore whether this leads to a more diverse CDR strategy. Simulations are applied at the provincial-level to increase model resolution. The results show that this indeed leads to a more diversified CDRs portfolio that may ensure the rational use of biomass resources and avoid overreliance on BECCS, a single technology not proven at large scale. In fact, EW could surpass BECCS as a more suitable option for large-scale deployment, especially in Inner Mongolia and Heilongjiang provinces. Biochar, on the other hand, is suited for small-scale application in provinces like Guangdong and Fujian. With the development of EW and biochar, residues resources can satisfy the demand for bioenergy and further reduce the resources depletion rate to 27.2%. Moreover, investing 0.5% of GDP in CDR industries can reduce transition costs by 50% (32.7 trillion USD from 2020 to 2060) compared with an investment of 0.1% of GDP.