Objective and hypothesis
In a political agreement on climate change mitigation efforts in Danish agriculture, it was decided that production and use of biochar should contribute with a reduction of 2 million tons CO2-eq in 2030. Successful implementation requires, however, a thorough assessment of the environmental impacts of the technology. The project’s aim is to investigate effects of soil amendment with high doses of biochar produced by Danish companies on carbon stability and quality aspects of agroecosystem and groundwater, combined with supporting measures on legal issues and quantification of the full system climate effects.
Approach
The project includes producing a variety of biochars from relevant feedstock materials in Denmark, while monitoring emissions and keeping track of energy and mass balances. The project will assess biochar stability in long-term soil incubation studies using Danish soils with distinct characteristics. Given the increasing irregularity of rainfall patterns and the abundance of sandy soils in Denmark, the project will also focus on biochar effects on soil hydraulic properties and crop resilience towards drought stress. An experimental platform is established in the field to test effects on crop growth and environmental functions of soil and groundwater at high biochar application rates. All data generated will be used for a quantitative assessment to determine the potential impact of widespread production and use on Denmark’s climate footprint. Finally, the work will contribute to defining biochar as a visible resource within legal and economic governance practices.
Expected impact/output
The project will help to pave the way for the large-scale implementation of the production and use of biochar from relevant Danish biomasses by key Danish technology providers, in particular by defining the biochar characteristics required for a successful implementation in the agricultural sector. This will affect both the growth of the Danish pyrolysis industry and connected companies and possibilities for technology export.
