TY - JOUR AU - Tao Dai AU - Nathan C Ellebracht AU - Elwin Hunter-Sellars AU - Alvina Aui AU - Hannah M Goldstein AU - Wenqin Li AU - Chad M Hellwinckel AU - Lydia Price AU - Andrew A Wong AU - Peter Nico AU - Bruno Basso AU - G Philip Robertson AU - Jennifer Pett-Ridge AU - Matthew Langholtz AU - Sarah E Baker AU - Simon H Pang AU - Corinne D Scown AB -

Gigatonne-scale atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR), alongside deep emission cuts, is critical to stabilizing the climate. However, some of the most scalable CDR technologies are also the most land intensive. Here, we examine whether adequate land resources exist in the contiguous United States to meet CDR targets when prioritizing grid emissions reduction, food production, and the protection of sensitive ecosystems. We focus on biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) and direct air capture and storage (DACS) and show that suitable lands exceed the expected needs: 37.6 million hectares of land are available for BiCRS, resulting in 0.26 GtCO2 of CDR/year, and 34 million hectares are suitable for wind- and solar-powered DACS, resulting in 4.8 GtCO2 of CDR/year if facilities are co-located with geologic CO2 storage. We identify biomass and energy supply hotspots to meet CDR targets while ensuring land protection and minimizing land competition.

BT - One Earth DA - 07/2025 DO - 10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101349 IS - 7 N2 -

Gigatonne-scale atmospheric carbon dioxide removal (CDR), alongside deep emission cuts, is critical to stabilizing the climate. However, some of the most scalable CDR technologies are also the most land intensive. Here, we examine whether adequate land resources exist in the contiguous United States to meet CDR targets when prioritizing grid emissions reduction, food production, and the protection of sensitive ecosystems. We focus on biomass carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) and direct air capture and storage (DACS) and show that suitable lands exceed the expected needs: 37.6 million hectares of land are available for BiCRS, resulting in 0.26 GtCO2 of CDR/year, and 34 million hectares are suitable for wind- and solar-powered DACS, resulting in 4.8 GtCO2 of CDR/year if facilities are co-located with geologic CO2 storage. We identify biomass and energy supply hotspots to meet CDR targets while ensuring land protection and minimizing land competition.

PB - Elsevier BV PY - 2025 EP - 101349 T2 - One Earth TI - Land-based resources for engineered carbon dioxide removal in the United States exceed the expected needs UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101349 VL - 8 SN - 2590-3322 ER -