Work

Biogas-based hydrogen production and carbon dioxide removal: Techno-economic and climate impact assessment

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Biohydrogen produced from biogas combined with carbon dioxide removal (CDR) can provide renewable energy whilst generating negative emissions. This study evaluates production costs and climate impacts of biogas-based hydrogen via steam methane reforming (SMR), electrified SMR (e-SMR), and plasma methane pyrolysis (PMP), together with CDR based on either CO 2 or solid carbon, across three production scales. Hydrogen production costs including CDR range from 6.0-11.8, 4.5-8.6, and 7.3-17.9 € kgH 2 −1 for SMR, e-SMR, and PMP respectively, but can decrease through carbon credit revenue. Although biogas plant integration reduces costs in decentralised systems, large-scale centralised systems achieve the lowest overall costs. Solid carbon from PMP applied in agricultural soil lowers CDR cost compared to geological CO 2 storage (1.3-12.1 and 203.0-299.0 € tCO 2 eq −1 stored, respectively), primarily by avoiding capture and shipping. All systems can achieve net negative emissions (−6.2 to −13.3 kgCO 2 eq kgH 2 −1 ) if low-carbon electricity is available.

Source: International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.156625

Authors: Linus Engstam, Gülru Bulkan, Leandro Janke, Cecilia Sundberg, Åke Nordberg

Institution: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Language: English

Topic: Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems

Subfield: Energy Engineering and Power Technology

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,730