Note: This project was undertaken when Below280 was part of Decerna
Project Background
Below280 was commissioned by EP UK Investments Ltd (EPUKI) to conduct a detailed Life Cycle Assessment of the proposed BECCS retrofit at Lynemouth Power Station in Northumberland. The study evaluated the climate change mitigation potential and broader environmental impacts of the BECCS system across its full lifecycle. It formed a key part of EPUKI’s Track 1 CCS extension application, supporting the UK’s path to net zero.
The methodology followed ISO 14040, ISO 14044 and the EU Commission’s LCA4CCU guidelines.Our study followed a cradle-to-storage system boundary encompassing:
- Feedstock supply chain (cultivation, residue recovery, pelletisation, and transportation of biomass)
- Power generation operations
- Carbon capture processes
- CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure
- Construction and decommissioning of all relevant facilities
Data Sources and Modelling
Below280 gathered primary data from EP Lynemouth Power, Wood Group and other key stakeholders. This included detailed information from Lynemouth’s main supplier on pellet mills, feedstock origin and transport routes. Secondary data came from the Ecoinvent database (v3.10), literature reviews and industry experts. Subject to key assumptions around sustainably sourced biomass, the study found the retrofit could achieve net-negative emissions of -1,017 kg CO₂e/MWh (-2.25 MTPA CO₂e).
Building on this data foundation, we developed a detailed parameter-based openLCA model. Below280 uses openLCA across all LCA projects. As well as its adaptability, this ensures future alignment with other methodologies, including the US 45Q tax credit.
The model covered:
- Full operation of the biomass sourcing
- Transportation across different modes and routes
- Construction of the original power station
- Construction of the BECCS retrofit
- Decommissioning of the site
- Operational modelling for the energy generation and carbon capture
- Pipelines to the eventual storage sites.
Impacts were measured against GWP100 and, additionally, GWP20 to ensure short-term warming effects were not overlooked. Furthermore, uncertainty analysis used a pedigree matrix approach, while sensitivity analysis pinpointed the major sources of climate impact. Beyond climate change, the model is also capable of assessing a full suite of additional environmental impact categories.
Key Findings
The work showed the proposed BECCS retrofit has the potential to achieve substantial negative greenhouse gas emissions. That said, this performance relies on three critical factors the analysis identified. First, the sustainability of biomass sourced from managed forestry and processing residues, second, the efficiency of the carbon capture system, and third, the permanent storage of captured CO₂.
Lynemouth’s supply chain uses wood pellets from managed forests, certified by independent bodies. Feedstock is limited to low-value thinnings, low-grade stem wood, mill residues and secondary wood materials. This is critical. Unverified forestry sources would eliminate the carbon negativity of the system entirely.
Conclusion
The BECCS LCA confirms Lynemouth can achieve substantial negative emissions, provided its verified biomass sourcing and capture technology perform as modelled. While the methodology is transferable to other BECCS projects, the results are specific to Lynemouth. Ultimately, each project’s performance depends on its actual biomass sourcing, transport distances and operations, not just system design.
In this way, the project demonstrates how LCA validates whether emerging technologies deliver genuine environmental benefits. In addition to supporting the regulatory submission, the study identified priorities for maximising negative emissions and established verification standards for biomass sourcing.