Environmental & Economic Assessment
The Biochar Demonstrator will be conducting life cycle analysis and techno-economic assessment to determine carbon dioxide removal of biochar deployment and help develop robust business models.
Our integrated approach evaluates both the carbon sequestration and economic performance of the Demonstrator. We are developing a framework for assessing both the effectiveness and impacts of large-scale biochar deployment, and exploring business models that might be viable at different scales.
Through this we are accounting for the procurement of biomass, biochar production, carbon sequestration, and the permanence of carbon storage with models covering the full value chain of biochar.
Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
We will assess the consequential impacts of biochar for permanent carbon sequestration, allowing calculation of the net carbon sequestration potential of biochar from different feedstocks and processes. Our LCA methodologies will help us to develop critical understanding of the capacity of biochar to store carbon and mitigate the risks of carbon release due to disturbance (fire, pest) or future land use changes.
Techno-Economic Assessment (TEA)
Matching feedstocks with optimised biochar production processes and additional outputs, we can examine how different business models balance costs with multiple potential value streams for the biochar product. As an example, an assessment indicates biochar production from crop and food waste digestates via a wet production process (hydrothermal carbonisation) can achieve carbon sequestration costs of £280 to £575/tonne.
