Biochar (PA Technology)

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Last modified by Axel Heinemann on 2014-11-10. This is a wiki so please feel free to update information by clicking on "Edit with form". | Printable version

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Name of technology example:		Type
Biochar		☐ Energy Efficiency ☑ Renewable Energy ☑ Alternative Methodology

Description	Biochar is a name for charcoal when it is used for particular purposes, especially as a soil amendment. Like all charcoal, biochar is created by pyrolysis of biomass. Biochar is under investigation as an approach to carbon sequestration to produce negative carbon dioxide emissions. Biochar thus has the potential to help mitigate climate change, via carbon sequestration. Independently, biochar can increase soil fertility, increase agricultural productivity, and provide protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases. Furthermore, biochar reduces pressure on forests. Biochar is a stable solid, rich in carbon and can endure in soil for thousands of years.(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biochar)
Technology for the Application of	☐ Solar ☑ Biomass ☑ Biofuel ☐ Biogas ☐ Wind ☐ Geo-Thermal ☐ Hydro ☑ Energy Efficiency ☑ Other: Carbon Sequestration, Soil Amendment
Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Steps	☐ Mechanization ☑ Efficiency of Operation ☐ Processing ☐ Transportation ☑ Controlled Atmosphere ☐ Controlled Temperature ☐ Mechanical Sorting ☐ Preservation ☐ Other: /
Primarily Relevant for the following Agricultural Value Chain Activities	☐ Grinding ☐ Hauling and conveying ☐ Sorting ☐ Seedbed Preparation ☐ Milling ☐ Tearing ☐ Planting ☐ Washing ☐ Mixing ☐ Pumping ☑ Heating ☑ Drying ☑ Irrigation ☐ Cooling ☐ Animal feeding ☑ Fertilizing ☐ Venting ☐ Animal health and Welfare ☑ Pest Management ☐ Lighting ☐ Packing and branding ☐ Cutting ☐ Sanitation ☐ Other: /
Primarily Implemented in the following Commodity Groups	☑ Cereals ☑ Fruits and vegetables ☐ Nuts and berries ☑ Forage ☐ Dairy products ☐ Meat products ☑ Oil Seeds ☑ Roots and Tubers ☐ Eggs ☑ Pulses ☑ Fiber Crops ☑ Forestry ☑ Sugars ☐ Stimulants ☑ Spices ☑ Other: Any soil grown plants
Region & Country of Development	Region ☐ Africa ☐ South Asia ☐ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia - Germany ☑ Latin America & The Caribbean - Brazil ☐ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America - United States of America ☐ N/A: /
Region & Country of Current Deployment	Region ☐ Africa ☐ South Asia ☐ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia - Germany ☐ Latin America & The Caribbean ☐ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America -: United States of America ☐ N/A: /
Region & Country of Potential Deployment	Worldwide ☑ Africa ☑ South Asia ☑ East Asia & The Pacific ☑ Europe & Central Asia ☑ Latin America & The Caribbean ☑ Middle East & North Africa ☑ North America ☐ N/A: /
Manufacturers	Supplier of Biochar, Terra Preta etc. from Pyrolysis: http://www.swiss-biochar.com/index-eng.php and manufacturer of Biochar Pyrolysis Plants: http://www.pyreg.de/anlage.html
Economics	As fertilizer and improvement of soil, biochar is of inesteemable value, especially, as it is capable to return humus to former desert areas.
Technology Development Level	Research and development and first pilot projects;
Required Maintenance Technical Level	Medium: Technology can be maintained through its life cycle with uncommon tools and requires moderate training for maintenance;
Required Infrastructure for Deployment	Medium: Technology development requires uncommon tools, mid-development level supporting technologies and moderately trained personnel; Establishing collection systems for biomass;
Required Resources during manufacture	Metals, plastics; Fabrication chains for Pyrolysis plant itself;
Required Resources during operation	Biomass to feed biochar production;
Deployment Level	Low;
Deployment Capability and Potential	Very high;
Requirements for Deployment	Implementation of small decentral biochar production facilities, implementation of biomass collection chains and transport routes for biomass and biochar, education of operation staff and staff to apply and implement biochar in agriculture;
Relevance for Autonomy and Food Security	Very high, it enables the creation of new high quality agriculture areas and reduces carbondioxide concentration of the atmosphere;
Environment Impacts (emissions)	Locally CO2 and heat, but overall negative CO2-emissions possible (carbon sequestration);
Conformity with Bio- Cybernetic System Rules	100%
Additional information / Comments	No comments.
Internal Reference
Additional Links	http://www.european-biochar.org/en/ http://www.pyreg.de/technology-en.html https://practicalaction.org/briquetting https://practicalaction.org/charcoal-production http://www.aqsolutions.org/images/2010/06/gasifier-handbook.pdf http://biocharfarms.org/biochar_production_energy/ http://www.britishbiocharfoundation.org/?page_id=43 http://www.biochar-international.org/ http://www.css.cornell.edu/faculty/lehmann/research/terra%20preta/terrapretasombroek.html http://www.cornell.edu/video/johannes-lehmann-finds-key-to-new-energy-soil-fertility-in-biochar http://www.geo.uni-tuebingen.de/studium/studentische-initiativen/biochar/history-and-press-review.html#c13440 http://www.ithaka-institut.org/de/ct/8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI0NvG5EAJg http://www.bund-bergstrasse.de/themen_und_projekte/terra_preta_schwarzerde/

"Renewable Energy, Alternative Methodology" is not in the list (Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy, Alternative Methodology) of allowed values for the "PAT Type" property.