# Jeonbuk National University model: BECCS hydrogen from wood pellets reaches net-negative emissions

- Published: 2026-11-06 05:39 UTC
- Section: Power & Energy › Energy
- Tags: carbon-negative hydrogen, BECCS, wood pellets hydrogen, life cycle assessment, net-negative emissions, Jeonbuk National University, Bioresource Technology
- URL: https://realtech.media/news/rt-bf162db7943db670ac87e14c_jeonbuk_national_university/

**Life cycle assessment of hydrogen from wood pellets with carbon capture and storage found net-negative emissions in both grid-connected and on-site power setups.**

![Jeonbuk National University model: BECCS hydrogen from wood pellets reaches net-negative emissions](https://sgzwpqqelzmajkcubgkl.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/rt-media/2026/11/fc0c234ab31c3532.jpg)
*David Aasen Sandved, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0*

Researchers at Jeonbuk National University in South Korea assessed the life cycle environmental impacts of hydrogen production by bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). According to the study published in Bioresource Technology, a plant processing 100 tons of wood pellets produces 4.2 tons of hydrogen per day [1]. This is a computational modeling study, not a pilot plant. The authors compared two energy-supply configurations: a grid-connected one and an on-site self-sufficient one [1].

## Emissions of the two configurations

Both configurations reached net-negative emissions: -17.19 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 for the grid-connected system and -36.56 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 for the on-site system [1]. These values are 18.69 to 38.06 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 lower than those of renewable-based hydrogen pathways [1]. The hydrogen conversion ratio was the dominant factor influencing global warming potential [1].

The assessment covered emissions across biomass supply, transportation, hydrogen production and carbon storage. In the on-site variant, electricity is generated from additional biomass and from heat recovered during production. This reduces dependence on grid electricity and the emissions of energy-intensive operations, the authors reported.

## Other impact categories and sensitivity

The grid-connected system showed significantly higher impacts in other categories, such as terrestrial acidification and freshwater eutrophication, primarily because of electricity-intensive processes [1]. The assessment therefore points to effects on soil and freshwater ecosystems alongside the climate result.

Sensitivity analysis showed that the net-negative result depends strongly on the biogenic emission factor. A threshold of 46-72% is required to keep a comparative advantage over fossil-fuel-based methods [1].

The authors conclude that sustainable deployment of BECCS hydrogen requires clean electricity and rigorous upstream biomass management [1]. First author Ha Eun Lee said that the electricity supply strategy can significantly influence the environmental performance of biomass-based hydrogen production.

## Sources

1. [Bioresource Technology](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134906)
2. [EurekAlert](https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1150488)

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Source: RealTech, realtech.media — https://realtech.media/news/rt-bf162db7943db670ac87e14c_jeonbuk_national_university/