GGR projects
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There is a wide variety of options proposed for removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
As well as CO2RE, UKRI (UK Research and Innovation) is funding five interdisciplinary Demonstrator projects to conduct research over the next four years. The results will be used to shape longer-term government decision-making on the most effective technologies to help the UK tackle climate change and reach net zero. Find out about each Demonstrator project below.
Biochar
The biochar project will address the uncertainties concerning the extent and scope of deployment of biochar, including its stability with respect to carbon sequestration, together with quantifying effects on soil health and ecosystem services, economic viability and social acceptability. Field trials will take place at arable and grassland sites in the Midlands and Wales, an open cast coal mine site in Cumbria, denuded railway embankments, and forestry sites in England and Wales.
Enhanced rock weathering
The enhanced rock weathering project will explore amending soils with crushed calcium and magnesium rich silicate rocks from waste quarry fines to accelerate natural CO2 sequestration processes. It will provide the first integrated whole system assessment of the science, societal and scalability opportunities and challenges of enhanced rock weathering deployment in UK agriculture. Field sites are the Plynlimon Experimental Catchments (mid-Wales), Rothamsted Research’s North Wyke grassland experimental platform in Devon, and their cutting-edge arable research facility in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
Peatland restoration
The peatland restoration (‘GGR-Peat’) project will work with natural processes to restore, and where possible enhance, the environmental conditions that lead to peat formation. Simultaneously it will develop innovative approaches to increase rates of CO2 uptake and store it securely for millennia. As part of this project, three experimental test locations will be established in representative lowland and upland peat settings: South Yorkshire, near Doncaster; land owned by the National Trust in the South Pennines; and the Pwllpeiran Upland Research Centre in the Cambrian Mountains of Wales.
Perennial biomass crops
The perennial biomass crops (‘PBC4GGR’) project is investigating the potential for plants like willow and miscanthus to support BECCS in the UK. It will demonstrate novel establishment techniques that maximise yield whilst minimising greenhouse gas emissions, and provide an up to date quantification of the scope for Greenhouse Gas Removal. The project will establish the conditions required for farmer uptake and wider societal acceptance, and investigate the costs, benefits and trade-offs for biodiversity and ecosystem services. New field trials will be developed – for miscanthus at Bishop Burton College, East Yorkshire and willow at Myerscough College, Lancashire.
Woodland creation and management
The relationship between the GGR-D Programme, Demonstrators and CO2RE
Together, CO2RE and the Demonstrators form the UKRI Greenhouse Gas Removal Demonstrators (GGR-D) Programme. CO2RE is responsible for co-ordinating the GGR-D Programme as well as undertaking solutions-led research on GGR. A key role of CO2RE is to provide insights into the cross-cutting challenges that will be faced by the Demonstrators projects and co-developing evidence of scale and wider acceptability of GGR approaches. CO2RE will provide friendly but critical oversight as the Demonstrators advance, which will result in the co-creation of valuable new knowledge as they scale.
Pathfinders projects
CO2RE is funding four innovative projects to explore new methods for capturing greenhouse gases and durably storing or converting them as part of its Pathfinders Call 1. Find out more about our funding opportunities.
Use of co-pyrolised biochar in Carbon-Negative Hydrogen Production (HyBECCS) from bio-organic wastes
Evolved aquatic microbial communities to sequester atmospheric CO2
Methane removal and remediation using chlorine radicals
Enzyme-enhanced carbon capture and storage solutions in basaltic rock
What is Greenhouse Gas Removal?
Our FAQ page answers questions around Greenhouse Gas Removal, including why we need it, what the different types of GGR are and how they can be pursued.
Funding opportunities
CO2RE holds a £1 million Flexible Fund which will be used to fill in gaps and needs identified during the lifetime of the Programme. The fund will support work to address research and engagement gaps through three approaches.
Publications
Browse the latest publications from members of the CO2RE team, including articles in leading journals, policy briefings and reports on a range of aspects relating to GGR.
Latest news
Events
The UK GGR Event: Current Innovations & Future Directions
12-13 May 22. Showcasing the latest GGR research & innovation and highlighting its role in effective, sustainable & equitable climate action. Read more
Greenhouse Gas Removal: Getting it right for people and the planet
12 May 22. Discuss, debate and discover how to get Greenhouse Gas Removal right for people and the planet. Read more
What does the IPCC say about carbon dioxide removal? (Online panel)
4 April 22. A chance to hear the key messages on carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the latest IPCC report directly from the authors themselves, and ask them your questions. Read more
Tweets
RT @TheSmithSchool: "#OxfordSmithSchool and @CO2REhub have considered various approaches to supporting deployment which involve the creatio… Read More
Find out more about the @beisgovuk consultation on GGR business models, and how to respond: Read More
@beisgovuk Read the policy paper, written with @TheSmithSchool, here: https://t.co/HM9XGFut2e Read More
@beisgovuk We provided approaches to supporting #deployment of engineered #GGR: ➡️combining voluntary & compliance demand for negative emissions credits ➡️or, having no compliance element to the market, with demand coming from government purchases and voluntary buyers in the private sector Read More
We’re pleased to see that @beisgovuk has cited our recent #policy paper in their newly announced consultation on business models for engineered #GreenhouseGasRemoval! 👇 https://t.co/QfalX9pr0W Read More
RT @UKERW_GGRD: Reminder that we're still recruiting for a PDRA, last chance to apply! #postdocs #postdocjobs #postdocpositions Read More
RT @CarbonGap: BREAKING: Big news in UK #carbonremoval today. New gov consultation "seeking views on the design of a business model for en… Read More
RT @UKERW_GGRD: A worthwhile read! 🔖 Contains updates from the Demonstrators - us, @TheBiocharDemo, GGR-Peat, @_NetZeroPlus and PBC4GGR. We… Read More
