arXiv subjects

Alberto Alamia

Publications and source records attributed to Alberto Alamia.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Exploring carbon dioxide removal strategies to help decarbonise Europe using high-resolution modelling

The electrification of energy demand across sectors, powered by solar and wind generation, is the best strategy for achieving carbon neutrality. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies are also expected to play a crucial role by providing net-negative emissions that can offset residual CO2 emissions, including those from cement manufacturing. While previous studies have assessed the role of CDRs in Europe's decarbonisation, most either focus solely on combinations of biogenic point-source capture and direct air capture (DAC) coupled with underground sequestration, or consider multiple CDR strategies at low spatial and temporal resolution, thereby limiting the representation of linkages amongst technologies. In this study, the sector-coupled European energy system model PyPSA-Eur is extended to include afforestation, perennialisation, biochar, and enhanced rock weathering (ERW) as additional CDR strategies. Using this model with a 3-hourly resolution and a network comprising 90 nodes, results show that a climate-neutral energy system equipped with these CDR strategies is 9% less expensive. Afforestation, perennialisation, and ERW potentials are fully utilised across regions, whereas biochar is not selected due to limited solid biomass feedstock being allocated to other higher-value processes. Furthermore, when these CDR strategies are combined with underground sequestration and a continental CO2 transport network, DAC is no longer required to achieve climate neutrality in Europe.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2026

Near-optimal solutions for carbon capture, conversion, storage, and removal strategies

Achieving climate neutrality in Europe requires rapid electrification alongside carbon management strategies for residual emissions. Existing analyses of the European energy system often focus on collocated carbon capture and geological sequestration, with limited attention to the interactions among carbon capture and utilization, transport, sequestration, and diverse carbon dioxide removal (CDR) options. Moreover, existing literature focuses on discussing the optimal, neglecting that near-optimal solutions might provide very different system configurations at a marginal higher cost. Here, we integrate afforestation, biochar, enhanced rock weathering, and perennialization into a sector-coupled European energy system model (PyPSA-Eur) clustered to 39 nodes with 750 aggregated time steps. We explore their contributions using a Modelling to Generate Alternatives (MGA) approach. The approach combines minimization, maximization, and random vectors to explore the near-optimal solution space for up to 5% increased total system costs. Our results show that, in a carbon-neutral system, multiple configurations of carbon management options can achieve net-zero emissions with only marginal cost increases. We find that a 5% total system cost increase is sufficient to accommodate the full spectrum from zero to full deployment of the individual CDR options, as well as a wide range of synthetic fuel use across different fuel types. Increased reliance on CDR options offers no clear cost advantage compared to greater utilization of synthetic fuels.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2024

Optimizing hydrogen and e-methanol production through Power-to-X integration in biogas plants

The European Union strategy for net zero emissions relies on developing hydrogen and electro fuels infrastructure. These fuels will be crucial as energy carriers and balancing agents for renewable energy variability. Large scale production requires more renewable capacity, and various Power to X (PtX) concepts are emerging in renewable rich countries. However, sourcing renewable carbon to scale carbon based electro fuels is a significant challenge. This study explores a PtX hub that sources renewable CO2 from biogas plants, integrating renewable energy, hydrogen production, and methanol synthesis on site. This concept creates an internal market for energy and materials, interfacing with the external energy system. The size and operation of the PtX hub were optimized, considering integration with local energy systems and a potential hydrogen grid. The levelized costs of hydrogen and methanol were estimated for a 2030 start, considering new legislation on renewable fuels of non biological origin (RFNBOs). Our results show the PtX hub can rely mainly on on site renewable energy, selling excess electricity to the grid. A local hydrogen grid connection improves operations, and the behind the meter market lowers energy prices, buffering against market variability. We found methanol costs could be below 650 euros per ton and hydrogen production costs below 3 euros per kg, with standalone methanol plants costing 23 per cent more. The CO2 recovery to methanol production ratio is crucial, with over 90 per cent recovery requiring significant investment in CO2 and H2 storage. Overall, our findings support planning PtX infrastructures integrated with the agricultural sector as a cost effective way to access renewable carbon.

econ.EM↗