New Opportunities for Biochar from Biomass Energy
Abstract
The US Biochar Initiative promotes the production and use of biochars from urban wood and residues from bioenergy, forestry, and bioenergy industries. Biochar markets continue to grow in North America creating new opportunities to convert wood residues to sustainable carbon while restoring soil health and improving water quality. More than155 US companies supply an estimated 50,000 tons of biochar per year which is used in agriculture, landscaping, and environmental remediation. Most of the biochar is a co-product of biomass energy made through gasification and combustion. New uses such as wallboard, cement, packaging, and electronics have increased the potential to sequester carbon by converting wood residues to biochar and renewable energy. This presentation will show how bioenergy producers can make biochars at existing facilities to improve soil health; restore degraded urban soils and abandoned mine lands; reduce water pollution from pharmaceuticals and fertilizers; remove nutrients, metals and bacteria from stormwater; and access new carbon markets.
