Biochar as multi-purpose sustainable technology: experiences from projects in Tanzania | SpringerLink

[Andrew Lockley]

Poster's note: do you want biochar on the list? It's a bit like CCS, in that there's a ton of literature, but it's a bit CDR-adjustment 

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10668-020-00809-8

Open Access

Published: 19 June 2020

Biochar as multi-purpose sustainable technology: experiences from projects in Tanzania

Anders Hansson, Simon Haikola, […]Noah Pauline 

Environment, Development and Sustainability (2020)Cite this article

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Abstract

Biochar was recently included as a promising negative emissions technology (NET) in the Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Unlike other NETs, it can potentially be used to mitigate global climate change while adding to local resilience in countries highly exposed and sensitive to impacts of climate change, such as least-developed countries (LDCs). The study is as an empirical contribution to the, as of yet, underdeveloped literature on deployment of negative emissions technologies in LDCs in general and on biochar use in developing countries and LDCs specifically. Nine historical and existing biochar projects in Tanzania are mapped in order to analyse problems, goals and common trade-offs associated with small- to medium-scale biochar production in LDCs. The mapping is based on a literature and document study, interviews with project actors, and on-site visits to biochar projects during 2019. The paper gives support to the observation made in the biochar literature that while biochar has many potential socio-economic and environmental benefits, combining them in one single project is difficult. It is concluded that implementing biochar projects in Tanzania will likely involve trade-offs between the development and subsistence strategies and needs of local communities, the motivational forces of different project participants, and the uneven regulatory capacity of the state. We end by reflecting on the use of biochar projects to offset carbon emissions made elsewhere.

[Ronal Larson]

Andrew and list:

I’ve just skimmed the paper.  It looks well done, addressing some important issues (doesn’t mention China where real science is occurring).

I don’t understand “a be like CCS”.   It produces rather than consumes energy, increases soil productivity, provides many more jobs, etc).  

` Can you explain “”bit CDR-adjustment?  

Yes I want biochar on the list.

Ron

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[Andrew Lockley]

I meant to write CDR-adjacent.

I think the CDR list could get swamped if we cover a lot of CCS / biochar. 

Andrew 

[Ronal Larson]

Andrew cc List

“CDR-adjacent”  makes more sense - but also needs explanation.  Having well over half of all  CDR articles and all CDR companies doesn’t fit my use of the word “adjacent”. 

  I have not felt “swamped” either.  And in any case, you brought the article in yourself - and I hope you continue doing so.

Ron

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[Andrew Lockley]

I'd like to hear other views. This isn't a biochar list, nor a CCS list. There are other places people can get that content. Most of that isn't written with a CDR focus.

I'm unsure how much, if any, such content readers wish to see on the list. 

Andrew 

[Douglas MacMartin]

Seems like if the focus of an article is “here’s more evidence for how much carbon can be stored” then it is appropriate, or “here are pathways or challenges to achieving carbon storage”.  If the focus of an article is on co-benefits only and not at all about carbon storage, then it isn’t really a CDR article.  I wouldn’t post something just because it contains the word “biochar”, but certainly some fraction of them are highly relevant...

 

d 

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[Wil Burns]

I find the CCS pieces pertinent also, given the fact that CCS is an important component of BECCS. CCS pieces often also discuss issues pertinent to other CDR options, e.g. DAC, including characterization of storage options, carbon utilization options,  the potential role of CCS with enhanced oil recovery to drive market potential, etc.

 

As someone who maintains a CDR bibliography that includes CCS pieces, I also don’t find the flow of new pieces overwhelming. wil

 

 

Wil Burns, Co-Director & Professor of Research Institute for Carbon Removal Law & Policy | American University Phone: 650.281.9126 Web: www.american.edu/sis/centers/carbon-removal Email: wbu...@american.edu Skype: wil.burns Address: 917 Forest Ave., Evanston, IL 60202 USA Follow us:

 

 

From: carbondiox...@googlegroups.com <carbondiox...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Ronal Larson
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2020 10:11 AM
To: Andrew Lockley <andrew....@gmail.com>
Cc: CarbonDiox...@googlegroups.com <CarbonDiox...@googlegroups.com> <carbondiox...@googlegroups.com>

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[James Lavin]

I’m against.  Biochar is extensively covered at Biofuels Digest and in many other places.  Unfortunately its production in a carbon neutral manner is almost non-existent and its application in really boosting soil carbon is more limited than what is touted—Georgia peanut areas yes, Iowa no.  It’s part of many of the terrestrial biological solutions— a moral hazard that delays real progress on DAC, mineralization, and ocean based solutions.

James Lavin

On Jun 29, 2020, at 12:03 PM, Andrew Lockley <andrew....@gmail.com> wrote:



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[Greg Rau]

As moderator of the CDR list, all topics of global/general CDR relevance are welcome. Regional studies (e.g.,Tanzania) are less so unless they significantly inform the global topic.  Information/debate that can/could significantly rather than incrementally move the global CDR needle is what I think we're most interested in here, regardless of what field it comes from. 

Greg 

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/CarbonDioxideRemoval/60818E55-44EE-49CD-87FB-F68E057BBE37%40lavinllc.com

.

[Peter Flynn]

To limit biochar on a CDR site makes no sense to me. It is CDR. To push it away is too exclusionary for me. We look at local DAC projects, e.g. Norway and Texas. Why not biochar. Is this any reflection of personal hunches on winners?

Sent from my iPad

On Jun 29, 2020, at 7:11 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:



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[Greg Rau]

Just to clarify, all topics/discussion on CDR including biochar are welcome here, the more novel and/or globally significant the better.

Greg

Sent from my iPhone

[Anderson, Paul]

I agree with Peter.   Biochar is clearly a strong candidate for carbon dioxide removal (CDR), along with the other newer technologies.

 

Another matter of potential confusion is the CCS is valuable for CDR (as part of DACCS and BECCS), but a major potential and interest in CCS is to have the fossil fuel industry to become carbon NEUTRAL.   That is not CDR, so we do not discuss it here, but someday when CCS is truly economically functional, the CCS transformation of the fossil fuel industry will likely dwarf the CO2 capture by DACCS and BECCS and try to occupy (monopolize) the available geologic formations for the sequestration part of CCS.   That could hurt the  prospects for DACCS, but would only divert the biomass from BECCS (BE+CCS) to be used as biomass for biochar and energy (BC+E).  

 

Paul

 

Doc / Dr TLUD / Paul S. Anderson, PhD --- Website:   www.drtlud.com

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Inventor of RoCC kilns for biochar and energy:  See  www.woodgas.com

Author of “A Capitalist Carol” (free digital copies at www.capitalism21.org)

         with pages 88 – 94 about solving the world crisis for clean cookstoves.

 

From: carbondiox...@googlegroups.com <carbondiox...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of Peter Flynn
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Subject: Re: [CDR] Biochar as multi-purpose sustainable technology: experiences from projects in Tanzania | SpringerLink

 

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[Ronal Larson]

Greg, List and ccs

I’ve now read and even partially  re-read this paper.   For anyone on this list interested in biochar and spending a few hours a week on biochar - this article is a must,  I strongly recommend it.

 If biochar interest is at the few hours a year level - I can’t recommend the paper - too detailed on a small part of only one CDR approach.  

 See 3 Greg-related inserts below.

On Jun 29, 2020, at 7:11 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

As moderator of the CDR list, all topics of global/general CDR relevance are welcome.

` [RWL:   I think this article qualifies - because it is a huge article for biochar enthusiasts.  I think it helps this list because it is real world - no theory here.  The article authors are clearly interested in the “global/general” side of CDR.

Regional studies (e.g.,Tanzania) are less so unless they significantly inform the global topic.

[RWL:  Again,  I think the article qualifies because Tanzania is quite representative of sites where CDR can be of most value.  If this paper reported on one implementation, then this list should not be bothered.  But this paper is reported to cover EVERY application of biochar in Tanzania.  Their count of 9 is about 7-or 8 more than I would have guessed  existed.  Mostly failed or discontinued - but mostly positive-to-very- positive results in the field.  That is informative.

 Information/debate that can/could significantly rather than incrementally move the global CDR needle is what I think we're most interested in here, regardless of what field it comes from. 

[RWL:   I put this paper in the “significantly” rather than “incrementally” category.  Coming from a respected Swedish University, it is apt to greatly influence the way all the Nordice countries handle CDR and especially biochar projects.  Biochar is moving slowly - but it seems to be moving faster than any other CDR approach.  I predict this paper will influence a lot of international resources - because the research was well done and fixes seem obvious.

I have to report that many of the 9 projects included use of charcoal-making cookstoves - a topic I have worked on for more than 25 years.  This mostly  favorable report on biochar will also go to the 1000-member “stoves” list  - to which I have only recently returned.  This mainly for biochar reasons that are supported in this paper. (No successful stoves reported either.)

Ron 

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