The International Biochar Initiative: Growth in the Biochar Movement and Industry Updates

Thayer Tomlinson, IBI Communications Director, February 2013

The International Biochar Initiative Growth in the Biochar Field The Biochar Industry Now Lessons from Building Markets in the Pacific Northwest

Who we are.

a non-profit organization supporting researchers, commercial entities, policy makers, development agents, farmers and gardeners committed to sustainable biochar production and use.

Our mission

is to promote the development of biochar systems that follow cradle-to-cradle sustainability guidelines.

is to support the commercialization of sustainable biochar systems at all scales by 2015 that will Help solve the global food security crisis and ensure soil security with the use of biochar; Help solve the global climate change crisis with the use of biochar; and Help make agricultural production at all scales more sustainable with the use of biochar.

First biochar-specific international conference in 2007 in Australia with 107 people; since then the number of regional, national and international conferences has grown significantlyboth in number and in number of attendees 2012 had major conferences New Zealand, Australia, the United States, China and Germany. Events in 2013: Mediterranean Biochar Conference; Nordic Biochar Conference; Events in Malaysia, Austria, the Philippines, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and the 4th US Biochar Conference here in October.

There are currently almost 100 dedicated biochar research institutions and programs at higher education institutes globally (that we know of) and new programs are starting constantly. The increase in peer-reviewed literature is also significant:
60 published papers in 2008 129 published papers in 2009 140 published papers in 2010 171 published papers in 2011 261 published papers in 2012 20 to date in 2013

Over 10,700 registered individuals who receive electronic newsletters, updates, and information Approximately 430 paying members Growing proliferation of biochar initiatives, research programs, and interested individuals tracks the expansion of biochar literature and general growth trends across the industry

We saw a 35% increase in visitors to the IBI website in the past 12 months; an average of 14,000 visits per month.
Monthly, the ratio of new to returning website visitors is evenly divided (1:1) In the past 6 months, we have had over 80,000 unique website visits from 206 countries and territories using 126 languages Top visits were from: US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, India, China, Italy, Malaysia, Philippines

Overall information on biochar/What is Biochar? Technology overview Biochar in Soils Biochar Stoves Production Technology Open Source Technology Standards Updates FAQs on Biochar Joining IBI IBI Publications Project Profiles

51regional and national biochar groups; of those 15 are in the United States and 4 in Canada. New groups in China, Thailand, Indonesia, United Kingdom

United States: US Biochar Initiative

Alaska Biochar Biochar Association of the Bay Area Biochar Hawaii Biochar Northeast Florida Biochar Initiative Illinois Biochar Group Pacific Northwest Biochar Initiative Pioneer Valley Biochar Initiative Rocky Mountain Biochar Initiative Seattle Biochar Working Group (SeaChar) Sonoma Biochar Initiative (SBI) SouthEast Biochar Interest Group Terra Preta at Michigan Technological University Working Group UBI Hawaii

Industry Growth Trends Biochar Certification Program Biochar Standards Biochar Sustainability Guidelines Biochar Offset Protocol Development IBI Information Platform IBI Member Services Biochar Commercialization Resources Biochar Research Support Biochar Policy

The IBI Biochar Certification Program allows producers to officially label their biochar with an IBI logo as having met the requirements of the Biochar Standards. IBI believes that a program to certify biochar according to the Biochar Standards will further develop the biochar industry. The IBI Certification Program is planned for launch in first quarter 2013; will start in the US and is in legal review at this time. For more information, please see: http://www.biocharinternational.org/characterizationstandard.

The Biochar Sustainability Guidelines are intended to be a practical tool for sustainability evaluation that is adaptable to different regions, feedstocks, technologies, environments and communities. In December 2012, IBI published Guiding Principles for a Sustainable Biochar Industry after receiving input from scientists, farmers, entrepreneurs, environmental advocates and other stakeholders. Initially will be online self-assessment rather than a standard and timeline expected to go through mid2013. More info: http://www.biochar-international.org/sustainability

One of the most relevant characteristics of biochar is its long-term stability in soil (determinant for potential as a strategy for climate change mitigation). As part of the Biochar Carbon Offsets Protocol, IBI is leading an effort to identify a test methodology to assess and quantify the stability of carbon contained in biochar when applied to soil. IBI has developed a methodology for testing the stability of carbon sequestered in biochar, looking at least 100-year residence time in soil (definition of permanence in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol, and used by most carbon markets. The Protocol will be submitted to the American Carbon Registry and be released for public comment.

Data and Industry Tracking

IBI is starting to track industry trends. What do we know so far (at the beginning of this process)?

105 companies that have products with working websites 191 companies/organizations foundstill going through all to see if they are operating Some product data, some cost info, feedstocks, company location, etc 25 companies producing/selling biochar list price, technology and feedstock

Companies - global Africa Ethiopia South Africa Asia China India Japan Australia Australia New Zealand Latin America Brazil North America Canada USA Grand Total

n Europe 1 Austria 2 Belgium Denmark 1 France 1 Germany 3 Hungary Italy 7 Latvia 1 Netherlands Russia 1 Spain Sweden 8 Switzerland 54 UK

n 1 2 1 2 3 1 2 1 3 1 1 1 3 4 105

Primary Product
biochar gasifier HTC pyrolyzer retort/kiln stove/furnace torrefaction unit Grand Total

number
35 13 2 35 8 7 5 105

Price biochar ($US/pound)* Country n Average Australia 1 1.78 Austria 1 6.48 Canada 1 4.38 Germany 1 1.55 Spain 1 0.83 Switzerland 1 1.10 UK 2 2.60 USA 17 1.65 Grand Total 25 1.99 * assume 1 quart biochar = 1 pound Min 1.78 6.48 4.38 1.55 0.83 1.10 4.02 0.31 0.31 Max 1.78 6.48 4.38 1.55 0.83 1.10 1.18 6.13 6.48 StdDev 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 1.42 1.46 1.69

Technology
unknown continuous feed kiln retort pyrolysis gasification vacuum pyrolysis downdraft kiln fast rotary hearth

number
13 3 3 2 1 1 1 1

Grand Total

25

Feedstocks
Unknown woody biomass biomass ag residues forestry residues hardwoods, coconut shell, bone, others bamboo green waste biomass, tires, plastics wood, coconut shell

number
7 7 3 2 1 1 1 1 1 1

Grand Total

25

Market focus
gardening/ boutique

number
19

large-scale ag/ land reclamation

Grand Total

25

Groups Producing and Selling Biochar/Units in New England

CT Encendia MA Vee-Go Energy New England Biochar New England Small Farm Institute NY Zero Point Clean Tech Biochar Works Finger Lakes Biochar PA SoilReef/The Biochar Company Enginuity Energy LLC VT Vermont Biochar

Small companies (<10 employees) Abundant enthusiasm Varying experience in commodity markets Varying business (including start-up) management experience Continuous product development (seek high value, low volume) Low production capacity Low capital investment (<$1 million) Marginal profitability Limited cash (undercapitalized, e.g. working capital) Limited access to financing (vendor financed) May be extension of an existing business Good technical product value (biochar works) Unlimited optimism

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

Variety of Biochar Products Biochar (fines, chips, chunks, pellets) Formulated biochar products for growing media

Activated biochar

Biochar + compost/compost tea + minerals + nutrients Inoculated biochar (microorganisms, compost) Granulated char formulations (manures, meal ) bioactivation (composted char terra preta) steam or chemical activation Specialty mulch roadside vegetation Seed coating Filtration products (stormwater) Manure conditioning or composting Odor control for manure or composts

Biochar enhanced products (1%-50%)

Agriculture Forestry Storm water Ecosystems Services

Opportunities for Products and Markets

Challenges: affordable conversion and field application

Retail Garden Markets Organic Growers DIY Biochar Vermicompost/Vermichar Specialty crops primarily organic Anaerobic Digestion and biochar Manure management litter odor and nutrients Turf management Displace peat and vermiculite in greenhouses

Opportunities:

Challenges:

water filtration on road systems, seed coating to improve post fire re-establishment, wildlife food plots for improving soils and food productivity, restoring skid trails re-establishing forest on road surfaces Integrating char into logging practices Large forest areas Cost to produce biochar with labor and technology over large area

Opportunities for Products and Markets

Erosion/re-vegetation Industrial filtration/roof drains Filter socks Bio-bags Green Roof Media Mine reclamation

carbon offsets monetized carbon benefits carbon sequestration impact investing potential brokers/buyers/policy support