Where have we been? Where are things heading? Biochar Commercialization: The Pathway Forward December 11, 2014 Erin Rasmussen TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc
2012 Survey, by Jenny Knoth
October 19, 2012 33 participants
2012 Pre-Conference Survey, Jenny Knoth, Carbon Cultures
2012 Pre-Conference Survey, Jenny Knoth, Carbon Cultures
2012 Pre-Conference Survey, Jenny Knoth, Carbon Cultures
Updating the Survey
Hope Mine Restoration project Morgan Williams and Andrew Harley's biochar restoration work at The Hope Mine in Colorado. In 2010, the team installed the world's first fully scaled biochar mine reclamation trial at an historic silver mine 7 miles outside of Aspen, Colorado. Blended biochar soil amendments (made from dead pine trees), were applied to the mine waste rock piles to increase moisture retention and re-vegetate the steep slopes at the site (zero irrigation, 35 degree slopes, 8,000+ feet in elevation, and only 80 continuous frost free days). From Morgan Williams’ summary: http://youtu.be/TCaOlirfLic TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
Where we’ve been Where things are going Where we were in 2012 • Research, Guidelines • Experience w/ biochar • Projects incorporating biochar • Our 2012 meeting set the stage for the NW Biochar Working Group
Where we are in 2014
• NW Biochar is still an informal working group of public and private papers • Many more academic papers, & outreach • Demonstration projects • Biochar in use in stormwater filtering and other applications TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
NW Biochar Working Group nwbiochar.org
• • • •
Biochar Producers http://bit.ly/1sBZdpq
Email list Web site Meetings Projects
Why Produce Biochar in the Pacific Northwest? • • • • • • •
•
Locally produced Natural product Sustainable Creates recycling opportunities and adds value to abundant local agricultural and forest resources Adds environmental and economic value Needed in key local markets for agricultural production, environmental protection and resource management Can be integrated into existing energy and agricultural resource infrastructure for production, marketing and distribution Can be produced and sold at a profit to maintain jobs NW Biochar Working Group Jan 2013
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Biochar is Made at Small and Large Scales
BioChar TLUD Cook Stove Seachar.org
Burt’s Greenhouses Ontario, CAN
Greenhouse scale heat and biochar NE Biochar 1 t/10h
Mobile Pyrolysis Black is Green (BIG) AUS
Boiler 3 MMBtuh Hot Water 500 lb/h 25% Char
ICM Gasifier 4-8 tph TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
Making Biochar
• Dry Fuel – Air Dried or Less than 20% MC • Temperatures – 400⁰C, 600 ⁰C, 800 ⁰C • Industrial Scale – High Carbon Flyash, 10 CY/day – ICM Biochar 400 CY/day – Earth Systems 10-20 CY/day
• Farm Scale
– Adam Retort 1-2 CY/day
• Small scale –
– Top Lit Burn Pile – >0.5CY/day – Small Ovens – 40% of 2- & 3- PAH
Literature Search: sciencedirect.com Compiled by TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc
Biochar Helps Re-vegetation and Environmental Remediation
www.permamatrix.com
BIOCHAR IN MULCH FOR HYDROSEEDING Permamatrix , Photos from Robin Cook & Sunmark Environmental
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Biochar Improves Remediation Fiber with 10% Biochar
“This was the recycled nasty soil from the steel mill that still grew vegetation. There is a line of where we sprayed PermaMatrix and where it was not applied. The other vegetation died.” -- Drew Schaefer Sunmark Environmental www.sunmarkenvironmental.com 10/18/2014
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Biochar Improves Water Quality
LOW IMPACT DESIGN:RAIN GARDENS/STORM DRAINS WSU Low Impact Development Center
DEMOS: 8 Cities RESEARCH: • OSU – MS, MBA • EPA Corvallis • WSU Puyallup • Stanford/CSM
ROOF DRAINS
BIOCHAR IN COMPOST ROLLS AND BIO BAG FILTERS FOR SURFACE RUNOFF 10/18/2014
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Biochar in Sand and Biofilters for Industrial Stormwater Filtration Port of Tacoma, West Hylebos Pier Log Yard
Sand filter biofilters Sand + biochar
Photo: Kennedy Jenks, Port of Tacoma, West Hylebos Pier Log Yard
Up to 80% - 90% reduction in ISGP parameters: pH, Zinc, Copper, Turbidity, TSS & COD Small Scale tests: 70% Sand + 30% Biochar to capture Copper and reduce Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
Biochar in Green Roof Media
Using 30% biochar in scoria roof media increased plant water availability by 16% . Cao, C.T.N., C. Farrell, P.E. Kristiansenn, J.P. Rayner. 2014. Ecological Engineering 71: 368374.
Photo: Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center
Adding 7% Biochar to Scoria based media improved the effluent with 70% reduction in Nitrates, 40% reduction in Phosphates and 70% reduction of Organics than un-amended control.
Beck, D.A., G.R. Johnson and G.A. Spolek. 2011. Environmental Pollution 159: 2111-2118. TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
Biochar for Healthy Trees Biochar + Compost Biochar + Mycorrhiza, Composted • Increases disease & insect resistance • Improves microbial activity and soil fertility • Increases soil water retention, and available water to tree roots • Stimulates tree growth • Improves tree survival No Treatment (right) 5% biochar + compost top dressing Tree roots at 18 months in compacted soils. Photo: Morton Arboretum Soil Science Laboratory
Trenches with Biochar + Mycorrhiza can be used to rehabilitate diseased trees, like these examples from Japan -> (Bartlett Tree Service & Dr. Makoto Ogawa) http://www.bartlett.com/tips/Biochar.cfm
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Biochar in Nurseries Agronomic Benefits SOIL STRUCTUREVermiculite substitute COMPOST AID Peat substitute = Compost + Biochar PLANT HEALTH Inhibits root disease Nutrient (P) carrier for poor soils
2008 Calforest Nurseries
2009 Ponderosa Pine in Soilless Media with Vermiculite (Left) and Biochar (Right)
10/18/2014
TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
Biochar in Structural Soil Structural Soil under Permeable Pavement for larger canopy trees in parking lots.
Improves tree health, helps them resist disease • Adsorbs oils/metals from the parking lot • Filters rain water, keeps nutrients close to trees. • Increases water available to street trees.
Parking Forest PCC (Maria Cahill)
ParkingForest.org
10/18/2014
Structural Soil, Cornell University www.hort.cornell.edu
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Agricultural Field Trials & Projects
Photos from Steve Griffith USDA ARS Forage Seed & Cereal Research Unit May 20, 2014 Wheat Trials
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Biochar in Urban Gardening
URBAN FARMING Ghost Peppers and Carolina Reapers 10/18/2014
GREEN ANCHORS www.facebook.com/greenanchorspdx
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How can Public Policy create positive impacts with Biochar Projects? • Procurement – materials, • Grants – economic carbon credits development • Policy – carbon goals, soil • Loan Guarantees • Research goals Local: City, County
State
Federal
Agriculture
WA DA, ODA
USDA
Forestry
ODF, WDF
USFS, BLM
Transportation
WASHDOT, ODOT
Ecology/ Environment
Portland Bureau Environmental Services
WADOE, ODEQ
EPA
Economic Development
Innovate WA, OR BEST
Energy
ODOE
USDOE
Education/Research
WSU, OSU, UI, UM
USDOE/Sun Grant
Extension
WSU, OSU
ARS TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
US Consumer and Environmental Markets • Retail Garden and Landscaping – Packaged consumer products • Compost and industrial byproduct char • Char suited to consumer needs
• Wholesale to – Landscape services – tree service – Specialty Crops, Horticultural, and Turf • Bulk Char to Remediation, Erosion Control – Oilfield remediation and Filtration – Stormwater filtration • Small scale agriculture - DIY – Community Supported Agriculture – Urban Farming 11/4/2014
TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
There are Many Emerging and Potential Biochar Markets • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Trees and Landscaping, Structural Soil Nurseries, peat moss industry Seed coating, prills and agglomerates Green roofs Urban Farms and Gardens Turf Maintenance Erosion Control and Soil Remediation Stormwater and Water Quality Specialized or strategic use in agriculture Traditional horticulture, hydroponics, poultry farms Food waste and food processors Forest re-vegetation Bedding, kitty litter
11/4/2014
TR Miles Technical Consultants Inc.
Market Development Questions Short Term market development:
1. What do you see as the most immediate market opportunity in your sector? • Research, demonstration projects, policy, and production could all be themes from the initial question. • What needs to happen to build that market? 2. Prioritize the top three or four action steps to meet those needs.
Longer Term market development:
1. What do you see as the longer term market opportunity? 2. What needs to happen to build long term markets? 3. Prioritize the most important three or four action steps to get this market developed. Tom Miles, 2012 Marketing Development Slide
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www.gasifiers.bioenergylists.org www.biochar.bioenergylists.org
TR Miles Technical Consultants, Inc. 1470 SW Woodward Way Portland, OR 97225
[email protected] www.trmiles.com 503-292-0107 503-780-8185 mobile
Design and development of energy and environmental processes Industries
Biomass energy Pollution control Materials handling Feed, Food and Fuels
