Frequently Asked Questions

Biochar is created through the thermal carbonization (pyrolysis) of biomass, including waste wood, hedge trimmings, and other biogenic residues from sources like the food industry. Its porous structure and high internal surface area enable it to store water and nutrients and function as a filter material. These attributes make it a versatile substance with significant potential applications in agriculture, industry, and construction.

Novocarbo’s biochar primarily serves as a soil conditioner, a peat alternative in the earth industry, or in storm-water management for blue-green infrastructure projects.

Additionally, it substitutes for fossil fuels or high-emission materials in various industrial applications. Examples include molded parts, housings and functional components made of plastic, flooring, and concrete aggregates.

Novocarbo aims to expedite the active decarbonization of the industry with its economically viable products.

Biochar aids in the accumulation of humus in the soil and hinders the leaching of phosphorus and nitrate. It also helps reduce nitrous oxide emissions on agricultural land and decreases the need for irrigation. Furthermore, it boosts plants’ resistance to fungal diseases.

As a soil additive, it can serve as a substitute for peat, thereby helping to preserve peatlands. The degradation of these peatlands due to peat extraction leads to methane emissions, a greenhouse gas approximately 28 times more detrimental to the climate than CO₂.

Cities can enhance their climate resilience and liveability through the use of biochar substrates in storm-water management and “blue-green” infrastructure projects, such as urban trees, rain gardens, and green roofs, which aid in filtration and water retention.

Additionally, the applications are expanding in the industrial materials sector. For instance, biochar can partially replace cement and sand in concrete production, resulting in improved concrete properties. As a filler, it offers excellent insulating properties.

Notably, Novocarbo is collaborating with the textile industry to explore the use of biochar as a substitute for non-sustainable materials.

To produce biochar via pyrolysis, biomass is needed, and various biogenic residues can serve this purpose. Novocarbo primarily processes woody waste or agricultural residues, such as forest remnants from wood chip production, sieve overflow that can’t be composted at local facilities, or uncontaminated class A1 waste wood. We also use green waste or by-products from food production like nut shells or fruit pits. The choice of input material also depends on the intended application of the final product and the necessary composition. We ensure that only biogenic residues, which would otherwise have no further use, are used for our biochar production.

As Novocarbo produces high-quality, EBC-certified biochar, specific criteria must be met when selecting biomass. Hence, Novocarbo is committed to sourcing biomass exclusively from certified, regional PEFC operations within a 100-kilometer radius.

This is where Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR), the official term for biochar production through pyrolysis, offers a significant benefit: pyrolysis allows the utilization of residual biomass that is otherwise difficult to valorize. According to the EBI European Biochar Market Report 2022/2023, utilizing just 1% of the currently available biomass is sufficient to achieve 6 megatons of CO₂ removal via BCR by 2030. These biomass figures are drawn from a study by Imperial College London, which estimates the total sustainable biomass potential for all markets.

There is also growing political focus on biomass: for instance, in October 2022, Germany introduced key points for the National Biomass Strategy (NABIS). Through this initiative, the German government aims to manage biomass flows strategically to ensure this valuable resource is used as effectively as possible.