Growing plants draw down atmospheric carbon dioxide to produce carbon-containing biomass. During plant death and decomposition, carbon stored in biomass is re-released into the atmosphere. Creating biochar through the process of pyrolysis locks in and stabilizes the carbon decomposing plants would otherwise release. This process therefore presents an important opportunity to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

During pyrolysis, biomass such as plant residues or animal wastes are heated in an oxygen-deprived environment, causing thermal decomposition of the organic matter to produce biochar. Beyond the benefits of capturing carbon, pyrolysis byproducts may be used to produce energy products such as liquid fuels, heat and electricity. Biochar can be used as a soil amendment, where it continues to store carbon and act as a soil quality enhancement. Using biochar on farm fields can increase agricultural production without increasing cropped area, all the while reducing fertilizer and water inputs.

This gigaton offset opportunity will likely be developed through a relatively small number of “platforms” representing distinct configurations of biomass feedstocks, pyrolysis technologies, and biochar and energy products at a range of scales. Small-scale biochar and pyrolysis development may include such approaches as the introduction of more efficient household stoves, exchanging open flames for pyrolysis stoves and applying the char byproduct to adjacent farmland. Medium-scale developments may include portable pyrolysis kilns for the management of on-site logging wastes after harvesting has been completed. Large-scale biochar and pyrolysis developments may include waste management within major bio-energy industries like the sugarcane-to-ethanol or the palm oil industries, or manure management at large-scale livestockoperations. For more information on biochar, visit International Biochar Initiative’s website.