Demonstrating the production of plant-based biochar in the compost cycle and developing high value-added biochar products.

The project aims to develop an innovative modular pyrolysis system for producing high-value biochar from organic waste, enhancing sustainability and reducing CO2 emissions.

Subsidie
€ 2.033.214
2024

Projectdetails

Introduction

The project aims to demonstrate the production of plant-based biochar in the compost cycle and its development into high value-added biochar products. Biochar is obtained through pyrolysis, where the carbon of bio-waste is captured in a very stable form. However, today biochar is still a niche market, and with current technologies, it is not possible to produce biochar in large quantities and at a low enough cost to bring it to the market.

Proposed Solution

Our solution is a new and innovative biochar production system, integrated as a circular concept into the composting cycle. The key innovation is “Pyrodry,” a new drying and pyrolysis technology designed in a modular unit format, allowing for easy upgrades to large biochar production.

Benefits of Pyrodry

  1. Utilization of Organic Waste: Composting facilities can use the entire screening rest of organic waste as feedstock for the pyrolysis process, completely solving the problem of incinerating screening residues.
  2. Energy Self-Sufficiency: Pyrodry also uses the excess heat generated during the pyrolysis process, making the entire operation energy self-sufficient.
  3. Drying of Wet Industrial Sludge: Another waste stream of wet industrial sludge can be dried and processed.

Project Plan

The transnational project consortium has designed a work plan that foresees a prototype demonstration system in an operational environment. This system shall be able to convert approximately 5,300 tons of wet bio-waste into 1,000 tons of biochar annually (WP2).

Future Developments

Once biochar is obtained, the project plans to:

  • Develop climate-positive concrete amendments (WP3).
  • Develop and exploit further high value-added biochar products across a wide range of sectors (WP4).

The project demonstration will form part of a blueprint for EU-wide dissemination, replication, and scale-up (WP4, WP5).

Environmental Impact

The circular innovation will lead to a more cost-effective production of biochar while substantially reducing CO2 emissions. Additionally, the obtained biochar is considered the ‘magic bullet’ to mitigate climate change. With 1,000 tons of biochar, we can store around 2,500 tons of CO2 in high value-added biochar products for centuries.

Financiële details & Tijdlijn

Financiële details

Subsidiebedrag€ 2.033.214
Totale projectbegroting€ 3.388.690

Tijdlijn

Startdatum1-6-2024
Einddatum31-5-2027
Subsidiejaar2024

Partners & Locaties

Projectpartners

  • SONNENERDE GMBHpenvoerder
  • NEXT GENERATION ELEMENTS GMBH
  • CARSTORCON TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
  • PASTU CONSULT
  • CHARLINE GMBH

Land(en)

AustriaGermanyBelgium

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