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This research aims to explore the current evidence on the sustainability of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage under a life cycle approach and to understand how research on this topic has evolved in the last decade. A systematic literature review was performed, and the main focus was identifying methodological shortcomings and analysing Global Warming Potential results. Forty-seven studies were selected for in-depth revision. Results show that the number of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) studies on BECCS has increased in the last couple of years and that most of these studies report near-carbon neutral or carbon-negative results for electricity, biofuel energy, and other products. However, in many cases, some aspects have been omitted from the discussion, such as proper accounting of land use impacts, impact allocation procedure, accounting of leakage from storage sites, and impacts related to carbon utilisation. Despite this methodological variability, Global Warming Potential results are mostly carbon-negative and carbon-neutral for both power BECCS and industrial BECCS systems. Consequently, current scientific evidence suggests climate change mitigation benefits from BECCS despite methodological variability. However, it is still insufficient to reach a consensus on the sustainability of this technology as a solution for a global energy transition. It is recommended that further LCA research deals carefully with methodological and product systems variability, which may affect environmental impact results. Moreover, carbon capture approaches with high potential benefits should be further analysed, and the most optimal BECCS typologies should be identified. Finally, additional life cycle impact categories should be reported, along with the assessment of the economic and social dimensions of BECCS. [Display omitted] • Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) was reviewed. • LCA methodology choices were discussed. • Global Warming Potential ranges between −3.873 and 0.366 kg CO 2 eq per MJ. • Current evidence is insufficient to confirm that BECCS is a sustainable solution for climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental panel on climate change raised awareness on the urgent need for action to limit climate change. Answers include bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which could theoretically generate negative emissions. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method needs to be applied to BECCS systems to assess their negative emission potential and prevent transfers from one environmental impact category to another. To allow for informed decision-making, the quality of LCA results should be evaluated. The quality of results is related to the quality of the data used. The purpose of this article is thus to review the life cycle inventory data that are used for BECCS LCA. To this end, 35 recent BECCS LCA were selected and the inventory data they used was collected. Synthesis inventory tables were then compiled, including the observed range of variability for each data item. These tables cover biomass harvesting, pre-treatment, combustion, gasification, and carbon dioxide capture with a monoethanolamine (MEA) based solvent. Data quality is also reviewed, through the representativeness, reproducibility and completeness of the life cycle inventories highlighted in the selected articles. Only a third of the articles (13/35) provide life cycle inventory tables. Only half of the articles assess the impact on climate change leading to inventory cut-offs. BECCS systems including combustion followed by MEA-based capture have been most referenced (12/35 articles). More transparency on data quality is recommended. Certain promising BECCS systems should also be further studied. This applies, for instance, to BECCS systems that involve second-generation solvents. • A review of the data quality used in life cycle assessment (LCA) of BECCS is assessed. • Only a third of the studied articles provide their life cycle inventory tables. • Inventory data currently used in LCA of BECCS is compiled into synthesis tables. • BECCS systems including MEA-based capture are most frequently referenced. • BECCS systems that should be further assessed with LCA are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]