Biochar Production
Biomass slowly baked in the absence of oxygen becomes biochar. This can be buried to sequester carbon and potentially enrich soil.
Introduction
Biochar is a carbon-rich, highly stable soil amendment produced as a by-product of pyrolysis, which generates energy from biomass in the absence of oxygen. When biomass decomposes, carbon and methane escape into the atmosphere. Biochar retains most of the carbon. If we bury it, that carbon can be held for centuries in the soil. Applying biochar to soils can reduce other soil greenhouse gas emissions (though this emissions reduction impact is not modeled in this study). In infertile soils, biochar can reduce loss of nutrients through leaching.
Project Drawdown’s Biochar Production solution involves tapping this process to produce energy, improve soils, and store carbon. This solution provides an alternative to disposing of unused biomass through burning or decomposition.
Biochar production is something of a new solution and is not precisely replacing a current practice, but can be seen as an alternative to other uses of biomass, such as burning. Theoretically, biochar could sequester billions of metric tons of carbon dioxide every year.
Project ideas to get started
Campaign for framers to incorporate biochar in their fields
Posters promoting the benefits of biochar
Record videos on social media on how biochar works
Information graphic of greenhouse gases from burning biochar vs fossil fuels
Branding a women-led biochar company
