Rethinking carbon for a net-zero future. With biochar.

The basis is the carbon contained in plant residues. In the natural carbon cycle, this would be released back into the atmosphere as CO₂ via decay of the biomass or, for example, through forest fires. Through pyrolysis, biogenic residues are carbonized to biochar. In this process, biomass is converted into carbon under pressure and at high temperatures with the greatest possible removal of oxygen. This process prevents a large proportion of the CO₂ bound in the biomass via photosynthesis from escaping into the atmosphere. Depending on the carbon content and further use, one tonne of biochar binds around 2.5-2.8 tons of CO₂. The biochar is produced in a combustion-free process. If it is then used as a soil conditioner in agriculture or as a filler in building materials, the CO₂ ends up in a permanent carbon sink.

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) involves methods for removing CO₂ from the atmosphere and storing it permanently. Climate neutrality cannot be achieved without CO₂ removal because in all scientific scenarios residual emissions will remain even with very ambitious reduction measures.

The climate target of the Paris Agreement is to limit man-made global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, the main aim is to drastically reduce greenhouse gases released. However, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a radical reduction in CO₂ emissions alone is no longer sufficient to achieve this goal. To stay on the 1.5-degree path, we would have to achieve net zero emissions worldwide by 2050 at the latest. This net zero will be possible with approximately 10-15 gigatons of CO₂ removal per year. Rapid scaling of CDR technologies is therefore essential.

As a Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) company, we process biomass through pyrolysis into biochar, thereby binding and storing the carbon present in the biomass. As soon as the biochar is demonstrably added to a permanent carbon sink (e.g. in agricultural soil or concrete), a certificate can be generated for the amount of carbon safely extracted. This is done on the basis of Puro.earth’s scientific method and a sound auditing process by independent third parties. Afterwards, the amount of CO₂ captured in the process can be traded as a Carbon Removal Certificate. This trading takes place on voluntary carbon markets and marketplaces like the NASDAQ platform Puro.earth, among others.

According to the external method used, the certificate translates the carbon content of each production batch of biochar into CO₂ equivalents. The carbon content is measured on the basis of laboratory analysis. Then, all process, post-process and transport emissions are subtracted from this amount. Furthermore, depending on the use of the biochar, a possible degradation rate of the organic carbon components of the biochar in the soil is deducted as a safety buffer. The certificate calculates this degradation over at least 100 years and deducts a further general safety buffer. As a result, one ton of biochar is equivalent to approximately 2.5 – 2.8 tons of CO₂. Carbon Removal Certificates are an important financial tool for innovative CDR technologies like BCR, enabling rapid scaling to help achieve global climate goals.