Don Hofstrand Agricultural Economist Co-director, Agricultural Marketing Resource Center. Iowa State University Extension President, Rural Development Partners
Comparison of traditional rainforest soils (left) with biochar plot (right)
Agronomic Benefits of Biochar Increase soil organic matter Improve cation exchange capacity Increase microbial activity Improve nutrient efficiency Improve soil pH Increase yields
Environmental Benefits of Biochar Sequesters carbon
Biomass Pyrolysis to Reduce Atmospheric Carbon* Current situation – 4.9 gigaton increase per year Pyrolysis gigaton increase per year 50% of Global Crop Residues 50% of Global Forestry Residues Pyrolysis – 3.1 gigaton increase per year 50% of Global Crop Residues, 67% of Forestry and Below Ground Biomass (stumpage) Forest Thinning * Review of the pyrolysis platform for coproducting bio-oil and biochar
Environmental Benefits of Biochar Sequesters carbon Reduce nitrous oxide emissions Reduces carbon emssions by reducing fertilizer and lime application. Reduce nutrient runoff Other
GHG Emissions from Corn Ethanol Corn Production Fertilizer and Lime15% Nitrous Oxide Emissions 25% Seed and Pesticides3% Fuel, LP Gas & Electricity 7% Biorefinery Natural Gas 34% Electricity 11% Grain Transport & Other 5% Total100%
Biochar Revenue from Crop Residue One ton of crop residue =.45 to.67 ton of CO 2 $20 per ton CO 2 = $9.00 to $13.40 per ton crop residue $50 per ton CO 2 = $22.50 to $33.50 per ton crop residue
Pyrolysis Produces Biochar and Bioenergy
Co-products of Biomass Pyrolysis Biochar (high energy density solid) Bio-oil (high energy density liquid) Synthesis Gas (syngas) ( low energy density gas)
Bio-Oil & Syngas Operate pyrolysis facility Co-fire electricity production Transportation fuel (gas and diesel) Renewable ammonia Other
Indirect Land Use Conversion Food versus Fuel versus Carbon Corn Ethanol -- (compete with each other) Biochar Pyrolysis -- (compliment each other)
Ag Marketing Resource Center Renewable Energy & Climate Change Newsletter (AgMRC.org). International Biochar Initiative ( U.S. Biochar Conference – June – Iowa State University ( char2010/registration.html)