- Author: Milton E McGiffen
Raymond B relays this recent article from the IBI website, below, makes the case for smaller, local pyrolysis systems.
Biochar for Carbon Removal from the Atmosphere (From the IBI Website)
In the October 21 issue of Nature Communications Woolf et al demonstrate that biochar could play an important role in removal of carbon from the atmosphere, which is increasingly recognized as essential to meeting global climate targets. Woolf compared biochar-bioenergy systems with bioenergy alone and gasification-based bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, known as BECCS. In its 2014 report, IPCC flags BECCS as the only major land-based approach expected to draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide. However, Woolf demonstrates that biochar-bioenergy systems that sequester carbon in agricultural lands could reduce carbon sequestration costs, allowing earlier adoption of a more aggressive policy of actively removing carbon from the atmosphere to avert dangerous climate change. Biochar-bioenergy competes favorably with BECCS at lower carbon prices, and where biochar addition to soils delivers significant increases in crop yields. Thus, effective use of biochar as a carbon removal strategy relies on identifying those sites that are most responsive to biochar.
This requires similar knowledge systems as those commonly in place around the world to guide fertilizer application. Averaged across all published scientific experiments, biochar increases crop yields around 20% with application rates often exceeding 10 t/ha. However, applications of less than 5 t/ha can increase crop yields by over 50% in certain types of soils. Even highly productive agricultural lands contain patches of degraded soils that would benefit from biochar application. Precision agriculture can deliver biochar to specific field locations where it can provide the greatest soil benefits.
Biomass energy in combination with carbon sequestration has enormous potential as a carbon removal strategy. However, biomass is a widely dispersed resource best suited to small-scale, distributed bioenergy systems. In contrast, sequestration of carbon dioxide is necessarily a large, centralized operation to enable separation and injection of carbon dioxide into carefully selected geological deposits. This mismatch in scale between bioenergy production and carbon dioxide sequestration is a challenge for gasification-based BECCS. The relative simplicity of producing and sequestering biochar results in biochar-bioenergy systems that can be built at modest scale and widely distributed. Their small size reduces the risk of deploying new technology, eases financing, and speeds adoption. Biochar-bioenergy systems can play an important role in a global strategy to actively remove carbon from the atmosphere.
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
California Biochar Association is moving forward with fund raising and other matters. One topic that came up was the idea of "aligning" with other organizations. At which point I immediately asked "What does "align" mean?"
I suppose to align is to somehow collaborate with and support other groups, but I am curious as to specifically how? How could other groups help CBA advance biochar use and related issues in California? Please let us all know your thoughts by responding to this post, and perhaps we can discuss here rather then via endless emails to a select few.
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
The Biochar Journal (https://www.biochar-journal.org/en) had a fairly detailed article on whether to use weight or volume when measuring biochar:
https://www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/71-Weight-or-Volume-for-Handling-Biochar-and-Biomass-
It is a tricky subject, as in ag we often think in terms of pounds per acre. But with biochar, the weight probably includes water and ash. Both of which have their value -- wetter biochar tends to be less dusty, and ash often includes potassium and other nutrients. But if you are looking for just biochar, anything else adds to the shipping cost.
I would rather get as much information as possible when buying and using biochar. In our experiments we have gone to noting dry weight, wet weight, and density. With that information you can convert between volume and weight.
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
Here are a few blog posts with general information on biochar and some nice graphics:
Biochar and Nutrient Management: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22132
Biochar and Carbon Sequestration: http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=22224
- Author: Milton E McGiffen
I spoke with Bruce Apple, from Ag Energy:
The units are specifically designed to use the wheat straw generated under one center pivot irrigation set up. It turns the wheat straw into biochar, and provides energy to run the center pivot. It is not permitted here in California, but the basic concept of a mobile pyrolyzer or a smaller one that fits directly into a specific farm operation is something we have needed for a long time.