Agriculture accounts for nearly one-fourth of Denmark’s greenhouse gas emissions. Biochar is set to become a significant tool in mitigating these emissions with the potential to securely store CO2 for hundreds of years.

Biochar is a type of charcoal produced by heating organic material in an environment with limited oxygen, a process known as pyrolysis. This process not only stabilises the carbon in the biomass, preventing it from decomposing and releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere but also turns it into a substance that can be beneficial when added to the soil.

However, no two soils or types of biochar are the same. To achieve widespread implementation of biochar solutions in Denmark, we need a deeper understanding of the overall effectiveness and environmental impacts of biochar in different settings and soils. Moreover, we lack the necessary legal and economic framework to support and regulate its use effectively.

The research project Biostore examines the effects of different types of biochar when used in high doses as soil amendments. The project considers the diversity of biochar and its local effects by applying different types of biochar produced by local suppliers to a variety of soils. Combining field and lab experiments, Biostore monitors various parameters, including carbon stability, soil fertility properties, crop growth, and groundwater quality, to help find optimal effectiveness and ensure the environmental safety of biochar applications.

Based on the results provided by the commercial partners, who assess process emissions and energy and mass balances, and taking into account the effects on the soil, researchers from Roskilde University will conduct a quantitative assessment of sustainability and climate change mitigation potential. This is supplemented by a team from Aalborg University who examine the economic and legal framework surrounding biochar production and application.

The Biostore project will help pave the way for widespread implementation of biochar applications in Denmark. With a clear understanding of the effects of different types of biochar, the project can contribute to a definition of the characteristics needed for successful large-scale use and production of biochar in the Danish agricultural sector.

Building upon these findings, the Biostore project will additionally contribute with recommendations for the establishment of a legal and economic framework to support the use of biochar. With these measures in place, the Danish pyrolysis industry will have a foundation for growth.