Daniel Sanchez

About

Daniel L. Sanchez studies engineered biomass & bioenergy systems that remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Trained as an engineer and energy systems analyst, Sanchez’s work and engagement spans the academic, corporate, and governmental sectors. He is currently an Associate Professor of Cooperative Extension at UC Berkeley.

At UC Berkeley, this research and outreach takes two forms. First, Daniel is co-director of the Berkeley Wood Lab, a research cooperative advancing the future of engineered wood products and timber construction in California. The Berkeley Wood Lab, in Richmond, CA, houses extensive wood products infrastructure, wood libraries, and demonstration projects. The Wood Lab also performs outreach and extension to support California's forest products and biomass industries.

Second, Daniel runs the Carbon Removal Lab, which aims to commercialize sustainable biomass carbon dioxide removal technologies. Here, he studies biomass & bioenergy systems that remove CO2 from the atmosphere using a variety of engineered systems. These technologies are broadly known as Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) technology.

Daniel actively engages with the private sector. He is a Principal Scientist with Carbon Direct, Inc. He is also a Science Advisor to Graphyte, Arbor Energy, and Earth Foundries.

Prior to joining the faculty of UC Berkeley, Daniel was a AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow serving in the Office of Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO). He holds a PhD and MS from UC Berkeley’s Energy and Resources Group, and a BSE in chemical and biomolecular engineering from the University of Pennsylvania.

Education

Ph.D., Energy and Resources, University of California-Berkeley, 2015
M.S., Energy and Resources, University of California-Berkeley, 2013
B.S.E., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2010

Selected Publications

Dees, John P; Sagues, William Joe; Woods, Ethan; Goldstein, Hannah M; Simon, AJ; Sanchez, Daniel L; Leveraging the bioeconomy for carbon drawdown. Green Chemistry (2023). Royal Society of Chemistry

Cabiyo, B., Fried, J. S., Collins, B. M., Stewart, W., Wong, J., & Sanchez, D. L. (2021). Innovative wood use can enable carbon-beneficial forest management in California. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(49), e2019073118.

L. Rosa, D.L. Sanchez, M. Mazzotti. “Assessment of carbon dioxide removal potential via BECCS in a carbon-neutral Europe” Energy & Environmental Science, 14, 5 (2021)

W.J. Sagues, H.Jameel, D.L. Sanchez, S.Park. “Prospects for bioenergy with carbon capture & storage (BECCS) in the United States pulp and paper industry” Energy & Environmental Science, 13, 8, (2020)

W.J. Sagues, S. Park, H. Jameel, D.L. Sanchez. “Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Removal from Coupled Direct Air Capture-Bioenergy Systems” Sustainable Energy and Fuels, 3, 11, (2019)

D.L. Sanchez, N. Johnson, S. McCoy, P.A. Turner, K.J. Mach. “Near-term deployment of carbon capture and storage from biorefineries in the United States” Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences, 115, 4875-4880 (2018) http://www.pnas.org/content/pnas/115/19/4875.full.pdf.