Carbon Sequestration with Biochar
Pioneering carbon sink project: The First Climate biochar program
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is an important step in the fight against climate change. Effective climate protection, however, requires us to use more methods to specifically remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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This is already possible today with biochar.
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Biochar is created through the pyrolysis of plant residues. The carbon contained in the biomass is permanently bound though pyrolysis. The product, biochar, can be used in various ways, such as in agriculture or the construction industry, making it a very efficient carbon sink.
With our program for carbon storage in biochar, we enable you to support the increased use of this forward-thinking technology, and to make an important contribution towards climate protection.
Carbon Sink Certificates - Made in Europe
In Europe, biochar has so far only been used by a few pioneers in agriculture due to high sales prices. The aim of our emission reduction program is to promote the production and use of biochar to reach the full potential of this technology. This is done using our carbon credits.
Companies committed to climate action can purchase these carbon credits and make an additional positive climate impact.
Additional revenue from the sale of certificates can significantly reduce the costs for farmers. Meanwhile, securing sufficient returns for biochar producers creates additional incentive to expand the program.
Why Get Involved?
There are many reasons to support biochar
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By committing to creating carbon sinks, you take on a vital pioneering role and set a good example for climate protection. Investing in the biochar program allows your company to take an important step towards achieving ambitious net-zero emissions targets.
Furthermore, the program provides the opportunity to implement active climate protection directly within your supply chain, through which you can send out a strong and credible message of your commitment to climate protection.
Be a pioneer and get involved in more climate protection.
Take a step towards Net Zero.
Take responsibility for your value chain.
When using biochar, its application is mainly focused in agriculture. It can be used in a variety of ways, both in livestock and field management.
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When introduced into the soil, biochar improves the soil´s capacity to retain fertilizer and water. This improves the fertility of the soil and the build-up of humus. Biochar is also a long-term store for nutrients, keeping them available for plants.
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Biochar can also be incorporated into farm animal feed and has a positive impact on the animals’ health and digestion. This also makes manure more fluid and, conversely, the biochar is charged with additional nutrients.
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In addition to this, biochar can also be used in the construction and building materials industries, which ensures stable carbon storage.
Using Biochar
Overview:
Benefits and uses for farmers
Soil application
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Increase in humus build-up by adding stable carbon compounds
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Improved nutrient supply and thus increased harvest
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Reduced nutrient loss
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Reduced greenhouse gas emissions (especially nitrous oxide)
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Improved water availability
Manure
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Reduced odor and loss of nutrients in manure
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Improvement of stable climate and animal health
Feed additive
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Improved animal health
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Reduced odor and loss of nutrients in manure
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Reduced methane emissions
Additive to organic fertilizer
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Increased fertilizer effectiveness through reduced nutrient loss and leaching
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Reduced greenhouse and ammonia emissions when acidified biochar is added
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Reduced methane emissions
Certifying our carbon removal projects
First Climate’s biochar program was developed in accordance with the ISO 14-064-2 standard, which defines criteria for the development and testing of emission reduction and removal projects. This standard is state of the art for issuing carbon certificates and its method and testing processes correspond to other common standards, such as the Verified Carbon Standard or the Gold Standard. By working alongside various partners, we can ensure the production and use of biochar in numerous countries. The carbon sink effect of the program is periodically verified by independent auditors.
Association Memberships
Charnet
First Climate is a member of Charnet, the Swiss professional association for biochar. Charnet supports the production of high-quality biochar and aims to sustainably tap into its full potential.
As a comprehensive network of stakeholders along its entire value chain, the association supports an exchange of experience and know-how. Charnet is an intermediary between research, politics and public authorities.
FVPK
The professional association FVPK (Fachverband Pflanzenkohle) was founded in 2017 and promotes the sustainable production and use of biochar.
FVPK is a partner for research, practice, and political decision-makers. As a member, First Climate supports the crucial work and development of the association.
Our Biochar Partners
Auen care service APD
Since June 2019, A-P-D (Auen care service) has been operating a pyrolysis plant Biomacon in the Flaachtal Valley of Zurich’s wine country and acts as a model project for our program. The operator, Toni Meier is a vegetable farmer. He uses the biochar on his own land and also sells it to farmers in the area. Watch this video to learn more about it.
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A-P-D is also a founding member of AgroCO2ncept. In an Agroscope resource project, AgroCO2ncept is testing the possibility to use biochar on intensively-used agricultural soils, with the aim to sustainably increase soil carbon content.
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INKoh
In Maienfeld, Inkoh AG has been operating a pyrolysis reactor from Biomacon since May 2020. The plant charcoal produced is sold directly or further processed into substrate mixtures and marketed under the Inkoh name.
Among other things, Inkoh produces innovative tree pit substrates based on plant charcoal according to the sponge city principle. The products have been tested several times in cities and are used throughout Switzerland.
Inkoh works intensively with research. The research work has resulted in the climate clay "KLARK" in which carbon is bound in the long term.
Holzenergie Gut
For the parallel production of biochar and renewable electricity, Holzenergie Gut is currently building a system for the Austrian manufacturer, Syncraft. Further information will follow after the system has been commissioned.
Our partner for heat shield pyrolysis technology: Biomacon
Biomacon GmbH is a leading supplier of high-quality pyrolysis processes and one of the first companies worldwide to build pyrolysis plants on a large scale. Biomacon’s plants utilize resource-conserving methods to produce climate-positive biochar. In addition, renewable heat is generated in an environmentally friendly way for private or industrial consumption.
Learn more about our partner Biomacon.
