The biochar industry continues to revolutionise the world around us with its endless possibilities and the ability to help achieve a sustainable future. The alarming need for the adoption of linear approaches to agriculture hails biochar as a game-changer for a resilient world.
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Imagine living in a world where waste is not just trash but a precious resource. Imagine a future where even the most ordinary supplies can be used to create something useful for the environment and effective against climate change. Although this might seem like a pipe dream, the development of biochar technology is making it a reality. The charcoal made from organic waste, known as biochar, has been heralded as a game-changer in the fight against soil erosion and climate change. Its possible applications include carbon sequestration and increasing crop yields.
According to Project Drawdown, widespread adoption of this material as a soil amendment could reduce global emissions by 1.3 to 3 gigatons of CO2 equivalent annually by 2050, which is marginally more significant than the possible impact of scaling up ocean power and marginally less than a 20-fold increase in the number of hybrid vehicles on the road.
The global biochar market is estimated to reach US$587.7 million by 2030, recording a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.30%. These numbers are clear indications that the market is poised for robust growth in the near future. As a result of the breakthroughs and latest trends sweeping towards a sustainable environment, it is anticipated that the biochar market will constantly advance at lightning speed, transforming the globe along the way.
What Is Fuelling Biochar as the Saviour of Future Generations?
Biochar has attracted a lot of attention lately due to its potential to slow down global warming and enhance soil health. It is widely applied as a soil amendment to prevent soil leaching, moisture loss, toxic element buildup, and fertiliser runoff, among other things. More business opportunities are anticipated to arise as a result of environmental awareness, declining raw material costs, and stringent government waste management laws.
With numerous trends sweeping the market, it is no surprise that people are increasingly looking towards this material as the saviour of the future.
For instance, according to a recent study published in the journal Environmental Technology & Innovation in 2023, rice husk biochar minimises drinking water contamination by removing fluoride from groundwater. Long-term ingestion of fluoride at higher levels in drinking water can result in renal disorders, arthritis, skeletal fluorosis, dental fluorosis, and more.
Additionally, numerous companies are integrating this material to address the growing environmental issues and, at the same time, boost revenue.
For instance, Airex Energy, which creates and provides decarbonisation systems that can considerably reduce greenhouse gas emissions, recently raised $38 million in a Series B fundraising round. Led by Cycle Capital, the fundraising aims to accelerate the company’s goals to increase the production of biocoal and biochar, two low-carbon products generated from biomass.
As part of the agreement, Airex intends to continue working towards achieving its goal of constructing a 350,000-tonne-per-year biochar production capacity by 2035. An estimated US$40 million was spent on the project.
The researchers investigated the efficacy of fluoride-contaminated surface and groundwater treatment using biochar modified with rice husk in column transport tests with changing solution chemistry, co-existing ions, and biochar. This ‘waste-to-energy’ approach to eliminating fluoride from groundwater with the help of this material is gaining immense popularity.
The Secret Ingredient to a Carbon Negative World
Environmental protection is becoming increasingly popular all over the globe. More environmental regulations are needed to protect the ecology from waste and carbon pollution. The government has passed several strict environmental laws and is promoting the use of this commodity for a variety of uses, including the feeding of animals and the production of energy.
Biochar can increase the soil’s ability to retain water by up to 18%, reducing soil erosion and runoff. As it cuts down on waste and helps achieve a long-term goal, it can be used as fertiliser once it has been applied to the soil. Furthermore, the rising environmental laws are anticipated to expand the demand for biochar.
All these aforementioned factors are anticipated to propel the need for this material as well as aid in providing lucrative opportunities for businesses. More than 335,000 temporary construction employment and 23,000 full-time jobs might be created in the US by building the 13,500 possible biogas plants.
North America is smashing the biochar game with 70 million tonnes of organic waste produced in the US annually, and the potential to yield 100 million tonnes of biochar.
Multiple companies are turning to biochar as an innovative solution to mitigate environmental issues. For instance, researchers from Washington State University (WSU) have developed carbon-negative, ecologically friendly concrete that is nearly as robust as conventional concrete by incorporating biochar into conventional cement. Furthermore, this material has a strength equivalent to regular cement while absorbing up to 23% of its weight in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Turning Waste Into Wealth: Biochar and Its Environmental Impacts
Nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas that is 300 times more potent than carbon dioxide, can be reduced by up to 54% by the use of biochar in soil. As a result of its ability to trap carbon and enhance soil health, biochar can have an advantageous impact on the environment. According to a research published by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, it is possible to mitigate up to 12% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions by producing biochar from agricultural waste.
Biochar can increase soil fertility, water-holding capacity, and nutrient retention when it is added to the soil. In turn, this may result in lower fertiliser and water use, higher agricultural yields, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. According to the National Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, the application of biochar in animal feed may lower emissions of greenhouse gases from cattle by up to 20%. Furthermore, when incorporated into the soil, it can last for hundreds or even thousands of years without losing its stability, effectively removing carbon from the atmosphere.
Biochar has numerous advantageous uses in agriculture and can also be used to store carbon in the soil. For instance, the composting time can be slashed by 20 to 30% with the use of this material, which can boost composting efficiency.
All these aforementioned factors have generated interest in utilising biochar as a technique to sequester carbon and slow down climate change.
Biochar applied to the soil in research trials in Namibia. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
Is Biochar Sowing a Negativity Across the Globe?
There are concerns regarding biochar’s possible harmful consequences on the environment, even though it may potentially have a favourable impact.
The potential for biochar to discharge contaminants into the environment is one of the major concerns. For instance, toxic compounds that could seep into the soil and groundwater may be present in this material that is produced from polluted feedstocks such as treated wood or sewage sludge.
Additionally, there are issues with how biochar affects the microbial communities in the soil. According to certain studies, biochar may change the microbial communities in soil, potentially lowering the variety and number of helpful bacteria. Problems have been raised regarding the sustainability of the manufacturing of biochar.
The production of biochar requires large amounts of biomass, which can put pressure on land use and potentially lead to deforestation or other negative impacts on ecosystems. Massive quantities of biomass are necessary for the manufacture of biochar, which might put pressure on the use of land and perhaps result in deforestation or other detrimental effects on ecosystems.
The production of biochar is an expensive process that requires a wide range of advanced and expensive pyrolysis equipment. Furthermore, it costs money to store and transport the pyrolysis gas produced during the production of biochar as it needs an oxygen-free environment kept at a specific temperature.
As a result, it is challenging for companies with minimal financial capital to enter the biochar industry. Moreover, the application of this material as a soil amendment has the potential to change the soil’s chemistry and microbiology, which may have unforeseen effects on the biodiversity and health of the soil.
Bridging the Carbon Loop
Biochar holds great promise for reducing climate change and enhancing soil health. However, there are potential drawbacks that need to be carefully considered, just like with any new technology. The proliferation of businesses in developed and developing nations has led to the fragmentation of the biochar industry. In order to ensure that this material is produced in an environmentally responsible and sustainable manner, it will be critical to thoroughly evaluate the environmental implications of biochar production and utilisation.
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons.
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