Plastic waste is a global issue, with the waste hierarchy prioritising reduction, reuse and recycling. However, despite advances in mechanical recycling, a substantial share remains non-recyclable, often leading to inadequate handling and environmental pollution.
Biomass gasification, whether for hydrogen production or as a source of valuable renewable carbon, is already well established, and represents a promising value chain in a fossil-constrained future.
Combining the co-gasification of plastic waste with biomass residues with carbon capture and storage (CCS) offers a flexible and scalable strategy for handling non-recyclable plastics while supporting climate goals through two key mechanisms:
- Process synergy – co-gasification of plastics with biomass improves process efficiency and syngas quality by leveraging the complementary properties of both feedstocks,
- Negative emissions potential – because biomass absorbs CO2 during its growth, capturing and storing the CO2 from co-gasification results in net carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from the atmosphere.
To unlock the full potential of co-gasification, Bio&PlastiCCS aims to develop scalable technological pathways for Norway and Europe, with a focus on CDR and integration into a circular economy.
The project has three main objectives:
- Mature a novel co-gasification technology from technology readiness level (TRL) 3 to TRL 5 and evaluate concepts that create value from biomass/plastic waste with promising CCS/CDR pathways.
- Identify the potential synergistic effects of plastic and biomass waste feedstocks on syngas composition, and determine the optimal operating conditions for maximising hydrogen production and CDR.
- Provide recommendations for scalable deployment in Norway and Europe based on costs, environmental performance and the potential for negative emissions.