Biochar production from late-harvest grass – Challenges and potential for farm-scale implementation

• DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2023.02.019
• Publication Date: 2023-03-08T01:56:35Z
• Authors: Thomas Heinrich; Hyunjin Park; Richard Orozco; Zhengqiu Ding; Vanessa Álvarez-L...; María Rosa Mosque...; Leopold Steinbeis; Thomas Hoffmann
• Keywords: SWOT Analysis; Carbon sink; Sink (geography)

Grasslands play a crucial role in European agriculture and ecology, but are often underutilized due to low-value end-products. The utilisation of late-harvest grass for biochar heat generation on farm-level is being studied as potential negative emissions technology. Technical (energy provision carbon sink), economic (cost vs. benefit), political (regulatory framework) social (SWOT) perspectives evaluated. feasibility has been demonstrated with three different farm-scale technologies the energetic carbon-sink When continuously operating allothermal unit evaluated, 35 % input biomass energy content can be utilized heating farm, combination provide sink. cost-benefit analysis shows important monetary savings when including agronomic value (based market price) produced biochar. An assessment regulatory framework production Germany presents multitude regulations applying such some which hurdle navigate may incur excessive costs farmers small-scale producers. A SWOT case Brandenburg, highlights strengths opportunities, also obstacles lack infrastructure support. This study need further development suitable technology research long-term sink