Carbon is not a bad thing.
We just have too much of it
in the wrong place.
Carbon is not a bad thing.
We just have too much of it
in the wrong place.
Carbon is not a bad thing.
We just have too much of it in the wrong place.
Closing Carbon Cycles
Closing Carbon Cycles
The carbon cycle of life captures carbon from the atmosphere into plants through photosynthesis. When plants die, microorganisms break them down, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.
Carboneers disrupt this cycle by converting agricultural biomass waste into biochar, which locks the carbon in an inert form that is inaccessible to microorganisms. With each crop cycle, approximately 50% of the carbon in agricultural residues can be transformed into a stable, fossil-like form of carbon.
The carbon cycle of life captures carbon from the atmosphere into plants through photosynthesis. When plants die, microorganisms break them down, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.
Carboneers disrupt this cycle by converting agricultural biomass waste into biochar, which locks the carbon in an inert form that is inaccessible to microorganisms. With each crop cycle, approximately 50% of the carbon in agricultural residues can be transformed into a stable, fossil-like form of carbon.
The carbon cycle of life captures carbon from the atmosphere into plants through photosynthesis. When plants die, microorganisms break them down, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere.
Carboneers disrupt this cycle by converting agricultural biomass waste into biochar, which locks the carbon in an inert form that is inaccessible to microorganisms. With each crop cycle, approximately 50% of the carbon in agricultural residues can be transformed into a stable, fossil-like form of carbon.
Biochar is produced through a simple process called pyrolysis.
It begins when biomass is heated within a low oxygen environment and follows two main phases:
Biochar is produced through a simple process called pyrolysis.
It begins when biomass is heated within a low oxygen environment and follows two main phases:
1
The Volatile Phase
The Volatile Phase
Biomass is made of carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen between the water and structural components of which it’s comprised. When the biomass is heated, it first releases moisture together with initial volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). When the moisture is driven off, gasses like methane become dominant and flammable, enabling a clean and efficient pyrolysis process.
2
The Carbonization Phase
The Carbonization Phase
In the second stage, VOC’s are driven off and ash starts to form. At Carboneers, we carefully manage this phase by introducing fresh biomass to the top layer. This new layer provides fresh energy for the fire while preserving the layers underneath from losing their carbon to VOC’s and turning to ash. The remaining carbon reorganizes into rings which make Biochar a highly stable material.
Our biochar production spans a range of technologies, from simple, small-scale kilns to advanced, automated pyrolysis units. The scale of production influences cost, output, and complexity, but our commitment to sustainability and best practices remains unwavering across all projects. Whether working with individual farmers or large communities, we strive to deliver biochar solutions that make a lasting impact.
Carboneers sees its biochar projects as an ongoing evolution. We continually refine our methods to optimize environmental and social outcomes. We are always searching for the best practices tailored to the unique needs of each community we serve. From the types of available biomass to the requirements of local farmers, we focus on designing projects that are both effective and sustainable in the long term.
Our biochar production spans a range of technologies, from simple, small-scale kilns to advanced, automated pyrolysis units. The scale of production influences cost, output, and complexity, but our commitment to sustainability and best practices remains unwavering across all projects. Whether working with individual farmers or large communities, we strive to deliver biochar solutions that make a lasting impact.
Carboneers sees its biochar projects as an ongoing evolution. We continually refine our methods to optimize environmental and social outcomes. We are always searching for the best practices tailored to the unique needs of each community we serve. From the types of available biomass to the requirements of local farmers, we focus on designing projects that are both effective and sustainable in the long term.
Our biochar production spans a range of technologies, from simple, small-scale kilns to advanced, automated pyrolysis units. The scale of production influences cost, output, and complexity, but our commitment to sustainability and best practices remains unwavering across all projects. Whether working with individual farmers or large communities, we strive to deliver biochar solutions that make a lasting impact.
Carboneers sees its biochar projects as an ongoing evolution. We continually refine our methods to optimize environmental and social outcomes. We are always searching for the best practices tailored to the unique needs of each community we serve. From the types of available biomass to the requirements of local farmers, we focus on designing projects that are both effective and sustainable in the long term.
ACTIVE
Flame Curtain Pyrolysis (Soil Pits)
This low-tech, cost-effective method is the easiest to implement. It produces high-quality biochar with minimal investment, offering high scalability and significant co-benefits. While highly effective, it is less efficient compared to other methods.
ACTIVE
Flame Curtain Pyrolysis (Soil Pits)
This low-tech, cost-effective method is the easiest to implement. It produces high-quality biochar with minimal investment, offering high scalability and significant co-benefits. While highly effective, it is less efficient compared to other methods.
ACTIVE
Flame Curtain Pyrolysis (Soil Pits)
This low-tech, cost-effective method is the easiest to implement. It produces high-quality biochar with minimal investment, offering high scalability and significant co-benefits. While highly effective, it is less efficient compared to other methods.
ACTIVE
Flame Curtain Pyrolysis (Soil Pits)
This low-tech, cost-effective method is the easiest to implement. It produces high-quality biochar with minimal investment, offering high scalability and significant co-benefits. While highly effective, it is less efficient compared to other methods.
ACTIVE
Distributed Mid-Tech Solutions (Chamber Kilns)
Chamber kilns offer a balanced option with medium investment costs and consistent high-quality biochar. They improve safety, reduce emissions, and provide stable production. This method maintains high co-benefits and scalability, making it a strong choice for distributed production.
ACTIVE
Distributed Mid-Tech Solutions (Chamber Kilns)
Chamber kilns offer a balanced option with medium investment costs and consistent high-quality biochar. They improve safety, reduce emissions, and provide stable production. This method maintains high co-benefits and scalability, making it a strong choice for distributed production.
ACTIVE
Distributed Mid-Tech Solutions (Chamber Kilns)
Chamber kilns offer a balanced option with medium investment costs and consistent high-quality biochar. They improve safety, reduce emissions, and provide stable production. This method maintains high co-benefits and scalability, making it a strong choice for distributed production.
ACTIVE
Distributed Mid-Tech Solutions (Chamber Kilns)
Chamber kilns offer a balanced option with medium investment costs and consistent high-quality biochar. They improve safety, reduce emissions, and provide stable production. This method maintains high co-benefits and scalability, making it a strong choice for distributed production.
EXPECTED IN Q1
Centralized High-Tech Machinery
For large-scale operations, this approach delivers maximum efficiency and effectiveness at the cost of higher investment. It produces high-quality biochar but offers medium scalability and co-benefits, making it ideal for more centralized and resource-intensive settings.
Support our Innovation
Support our Innovation
EXPECTED IN Q1
Centralized High-Tech Machinery
For large-scale operations, this approach delivers maximum efficiency and effectiveness at the cost of higher investment. It produces high-quality biochar but offers medium scalability and co-benefits, making it ideal for more centralized and resource-intensive settings.
Support our Innovation
Support our Innovation
EXPECTED IN Q1
Centralized High-Tech Machinery
For large-scale operations, this approach delivers maximum efficiency and effectiveness at the cost of higher investment. It produces high-quality biochar but offers medium scalability and co-benefits, making it ideal for more centralized and resource-intensive settings.
Support our Innovation
Support our Innovation
EXPECTED IN Q1
Centralized High-Tech Machinery
For large-scale operations, this approach delivers maximum efficiency and effectiveness at the cost of higher investment. It produces high-quality biochar but offers medium scalability and co-benefits, making it ideal for more centralized and resource-intensive settings.
Support our Innovation
Support our Innovation
Permanence ensured
Permanence ensured
New research has introduced a benchmark to measure biochar permanence, showing that biochar can be geologically analogous to million-year-old coal deposits[2]. This benchmark is known as the inertinite ratio. Inertinite is the most stable form of organic carbon in Earth's crust and is considered the ultimate benchmark of organic carbon permanence in the environment.
Additionally, new scientific evidence published last month on the longest-running field trials of biochar permanence showed that after 15 years of biochar application, the biochar in soils remained unchanged, confirming the permanent nature of the inertinite share of carbon in biochar[3].
At Carboneers, we are focused on obtaining a comprehensive set of measurements to test if our biochar from all our feedstocks meets the inertinite (R0 > 2%) and semi-inertinite (1.2% > R0 > 2%) benchmarks. This data will prove that our biochar can be considered a geologically stable form of organic carbon, remaining in the soil without decomposing for thousands, if not millions, of years.
New research has introduced a benchmark to measure biochar permanence, showing that biochar can be geologically analogous to million-year-old coal deposits[2]. This benchmark is known as the inertinite ratio. Inertinite is the most stable form of organic carbon in Earth's crust and is considered the ultimate benchmark of organic carbon permanence in the environment.
Additionally, new scientific evidence published last month on the longest-running field trials of biochar permanence showed that after 15 years of biochar application, the biochar in soils remained unchanged, confirming the permanent nature of the inertinite share of carbon in biochar[3].
At Carboneers, we are focused on obtaining a comprehensive set of measurements to test if our biochar from all our feedstocks meets the inertinite (R0 > 2%) and semi-inertinite (1.2% > R0 > 2%) benchmarks. This data will prove that our biochar can be considered a geologically stable form of organic carbon, remaining in the soil without decomposing for thousands, if not millions, of years.
Research increasingly shows that biochar is more durable than previously thought when the right parameters are met. Carboneers has demonstrated that the H/C ratio of our biochar is consistently below 0.4. Our latest tests show H/C ratios of 0.35 for corn cobs, 0.29 for cocoa pods, 0.32 for corn stalks, 0.22 for cotton stalks, 0.26 for fruit tree trimmings, 0.24 for rice straw, 0.28 for soybean stalks, and 0.06 for sorghum stalks.
Well-established, peer-reviewed research indicates that biochar with an H/C ratio below 0.4 consists of two fractions with different permanence[1]. Approximately 25% by weight is expected to decompose within the first 350 years, while the remaining 75% has a very high permanence of at least 1,000 years, and likely even longer. Based on our current and consistently low H/C ratios and well-reviewed research, we can assume that at least 75% of our biochar remains stable for over 1,000 years. Carboneers only brings to market the 75% fraction of biochar produced that is estimated to have a permanence over 1,000 years, reinforcing our commitment to high quality, durable carbon removals.
Research increasingly shows that biochar is more durable than previously thought when the right parameters are met. Carboneers has demonstrated that the H/C ratio of our biochar is consistently below 0.4. Our latest tests show H/C ratios of 0.35 for corn cobs, 0.29 for cocoa pods, 0.32 for corn stalks, 0.22 for cotton stalks, 0.26 for fruit tree trimmings, 0.24 for rice straw, 0.28 for soybean stalks, and 0.06 for sorghum stalks.
Well-established, peer-reviewed research indicates that biochar with an H/C ratio below 0.4 consists of two fractions with different permanence[1]. Approximately 25% by weight is expected to decompose within the first 350 years, while the remaining 75% has a very high permanence of at least 1,000 years, and likely even longer. Based on our current and consistently low H/C ratios and well-reviewed research, we can assume that at least 75% of our biochar remains stable for over 1,000 years. Carboneers only brings to market the 75% fraction of biochar produced that is estimated to have a permanence over 1,000 years, reinforcing our commitment to high quality, durable carbon removals.
[1] Schmidt HP, Abiven S, Hageman N, Meyer zu Drewer J: Permanence of soil applied biochar.
An executive summary for Global Biochar Carbon
Sink certification, the Biochar Journal 2022, Arbaz, Switzerland
www.biochar-journal.org/en/ct/109, pp 69-74
[2] Sanei, H., Rudra, A., Przyswitt, Z. M. M., Kousted, S., Sindlev, M. B., Zheng, X., Nielsen, S. B., & Petersen, H. I. (2024). Assessing biochar's permanence: An inertinite benchmark. International Journal of Coal Geology, 281, 104409.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coal.2023.104409
[3] Chiaramonti, D., Lotti, G., Vaccari, F. P., & Sanei, H. (2024). Assessment of long-lived Carbon permanence in agricultural soil: Unearthing 15 years-old biochar from long-term field experiment in vineyard. Biomass and Bioenergy, 191, 107484.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2024.107484