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New Science Says Biochar is Very Permanent

Oct 24, 2023

Hamed Sanei, expert in geoscience, discusses the stability of carbon storage in biochar. Recent research shows biochar's effectiveness as a durable carbon removal method. It represents 92% of sales and has the potential to deliver three gigatons of CDR annually. Biochar is thousands of years old, works as a soil amendment, and can be made from various biomass types. The debate over carbon storage permanence needs to be closed so the biochar community can focus on its potential.

29:28

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Episode guests

Hamed Sanei

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Quick takeaways

Biochar is a durable and accessible carbon removal method that has represented the majority of permanent carbon removal sales and could deliver significant carbon dioxide removal annually.

Recent research suggests that properly charred biochar with characteristics similar to inertinite has the potential for long-term stability, with estimated half-lives of at least a million years, providing optimism about its permanence as a carbon removal solution.

Deep dives

Biochar as a Technologically Ready and Accessible Carbon Removal Method

Biochar is a promising carbon removal method due to its technological readiness, accessibility, and relatively low-tech nature compared to other permanent methods. It represented 92% of permanent carbon removal sales in the first part of 2023, and a recent report suggests it could deliver three gigatons of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) annually. Biochar is an old technology with a history spanning thousands of years and serves as a soil amendment that improves crop productivity. It can be made from various biomass types and is becoming a staple in CDR portfolios. However, questions regarding the permanence of carbon removal using biochar have raised concerns.

Introduction

2min

Exploring the Misunderstood Nature of Biochar

4min

The Stability and Formation of Inertionite

16min

Exploring the Stability and Permanence of Biochar in Carbon Removal

4min

Future Research Plans and Collaborations for Biochar

3min

In our guest’s corner of the geoscience field, inertinites are well-known to be stable forms of carbon. So Hamed Sanei was surprised to learn that there was significant debate over the stability of CO2 storage in biochar, which is an inertinite. In his view, the science of that question has been settled for a long time, and the answer is clear: biochar is durable carbon removal.

Biochar represented 92% of permanent carbon removal sales in the first part of 2023.

It is technologically ready and accessible by a larger share of businesses and populations than other ‘permanent methods’ due to its relatively low-tech production. A recent report found it could one day deliver three gigatons of CDR annually. More investment money is flowing to companies doing biochar, and it has become a staple of CDR portfolios among buyers who are diversifying.

Not only that, but it is thousands of years old and works as a soil amendment that helps crop productivity. It can be made from various biomass types, and the potential uses are just as numerous.

However, a major question has hovered over the reputation of biochar: Is the carbon removed from the atmosphere by biochar stored permanently, or will it quickly seep back into the air?

However, recent research has drawn some optimistic conclusions.

Hamed walks us through why there has been debate, what his research has found, and why he thinks the debate over carbon storage permanence needs to be closed so that the biochar community can focus on improving and scaling the use of biochar.

On This Episode

Radhika Moolgavkar

Hamed Sanei

Resources

CDR.fyi- How Much of CDR Sales are Biochar

Report on Global Potential of Biochar

Recent Biochar Purchase from Microsoft

Biochar is 1000’s of Year Old!

Hamed’s Research

The Lithospheric Organic Carbon Lab

European Biochar Industry Consortium

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