Hydrogen could help industries reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, but its environmental benefits depend largely on how it is produced. Conventional hydrogen production can release substantial amounts of greenhouse gases, creating a need for technologies that not only reduce emissions but also help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Researchers at Jeonbuk National University, South Korea, have studied how combining biomass-based hydrogen production with carbon capture and storage could address this challenge. Their findings suggest that generating electricity within the production facility, rather than relying on the power grid, could significantly improve the climate benefits of hydrogen production. The paper was made available online on May 19, 2026, and published in Volume 456 of the journal Bioresource Technology on September 1, 2026.
The approach, known as bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), uses organic materials such as wood pellets to produce hydrogen while capturing the carbon dioxide released during processing and storing it underground. When biomass is sourced sustainably and the captured carbon remains securely stored, the process could remove more greenhouse gases than it releases.
To assess its environmental benefits, the researchers examined emissions across the entire production process, including biomass supply, transportation, hydrogen production, and carbon storage. They compared two systems designed to produce similar amounts of hydrogen: one using electricity from the power grid and another generating its own electricity from biomass and heat recovered during production.
Both systems showed the potential to achieve net-negative greenhouse gas emissions, meaning they could remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than they release. However, the system generating electricity on-site offered substantially greater climate benefits under the study's assumptions. By using additional biomass and recovering heat from the production process, it reduced dependence on grid electricity and the emissions associated with energy-intensive operations.
Professor See Hoon Lee of Jeonbuk National University explained, "Producing hydrogen with biomass and carbon capture offers an opportunity to generate clean energy while removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, understanding emissions across the entire supply chain is essential to determining whether these systems can deliver meaningful climate benefits."
The researchers also found that hydrogen production efficiency and sustainable biomass sourcing played important roles in determining the overall environmental impact. Although both systems showed potential climate benefits, the assessment identified other environmental concerns, including effects on soil and freshwater ecosystems. These findings highlight the importance of considering the broader environmental consequences of hydrogen production.
Ha Eun Lee, the study's first author and a doctoral researcher at Jeonbuk National University, added, "Our findings show that the electricity supply strategy can significantly influence the environmental performance of biomass-based hydrogen production. Combining efficient processes with clean energy and responsible biomass sourcing will be critical for achieving reliable carbon-negative outcomes."
Overall, these findings provide useful guidance for developing future hydrogen production plants. Combining sustainable biomass, carbon capture, and on-site electricity generation could help industries reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward cleaner energy production.
Reference
Title of original paper: Life cycle greenhouse gas reduction in bioenergy with carbon capture and storage processes for green hydrogen production
Journal: Bioresource Technology
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134906
About Jeonbuk National University
Founded in 1947, Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) is a leading Korean flagship university. Located in Jeonju, a city where tradition lives on, the campus embodies an open academic community that harmonizes Korean heritage with a spirit of innovation. Declaring the "On AI Era," JBNU is at the forefront of digital transformation through AI-driven education, research, and administration. JBNU leads the Physical AI Demonstration Project valued at around $1 billion and spearheads national innovation initiatives such as RISE (Regional Innovation for Startup and Education) and the Global University 30, advancing as a global hub of AI innovation.
Website: https://www.jbnu.ac.kr/en/index.do
About Professor See Hoon Lee
See Hoon Lee is a Professor in the Department of Resources and Energy Engineering at Jeonbuk National University, South Korea. His research focuses on low-carbon energy conversion technologies, biomass utilization, hydrogen production, and carbon capture and utilization. His expertise also includes life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) to evaluate the environmental impacts and economic feasibility of energy systems. As the supervising professor for this study, he provides academic guidance and expertise in sustainable energy technologies and integrated environmental and economic assessments.
About Researcher Ha Eun Lee
Ha Eun Lee is a doctoral researcher at Jeonbuk National University, South Korea, under the supervision of Professor See Hoon Lee. Her research involves evaluating energy processes through life cycle assessment and related analytical methods. As the first author of this study, she contributes to evaluating the environmental performance of biomass-based hydrogen production and carbon capture technologies.
