Biochar Technology
One of the most exciting new strategies for restoring carbon to depleted soils,and sequestering significant amounts of CO2 for 1,000 years and more, is the use of biochar.” “The principle barrier to the use of this strategy is the lack of a price on carbon that would drive the economy toward the most effective ways to sequester it. There is presently no formalized network of biochar distribution channels or commercial scale production facilities. But a stable price on carbon would cause them to quickly emerge – because biochar holds such promise as an inexpensive and highly effective way to sequester carbon in soil.”
Al Gore, 45th Vice President of the United States and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize Co-recipient
Photo: Paramount Vantage
There are many different ways to make biochar, but all of them involve baking biomass in the absence of air to drive off volatile gasses, leaving carbon behind. This simple process is called thermal decomposition, and it comes in three main varieties: pyrolysis, gasification and hydrothermal carbonization. These methods can produce clean energy in the form of gas or oil along with the biochar. This energy may be recoverable for another use, or it may simply be burned and released as heat. It’s one of the few technologies that is relatively inexpensive, widely applicable and quickly scalable.
But biochar technology is more than just the equipment needed to produce biochar. Biochar technology necessarily includes entire integrated systems that can contain various components that may or may not be part of any particular system.
In general, however, biochar systems should include the following elements:
- Collection, transport and processing of biomass feedstocks
- Production and testing of biochar
- Production and utilization of energy co-products: gas, oil or heat
- Biochar transport and handling for soil application
- Monitoring of biochar applications for carbon accounting or other purposes
Biochar production diagram courtesy of Johannes Lehmann
Biochar Pathways Matrix
IBI has recently completed a matrix on biochar pathways best suited for different environments including technologies, feedstocks, by-products, sustainability issues, and advantages and challenges. If you have suggestions or additions to this document, please contact Kelpie Wilson.