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Abstract. New pyrolysis technologies have been developed that allow for carbon sequestration through
the production of sustainable energy from biomass (bioenergy). These systems produce charcoal (biochar)
and energy in the form of heat, steam, electricity, or liquid fuels. Purified hydrogen can also be produced,
allowing production of ammonia and future electric systems that utilize hydrogen (such as hydrogen fuel
cells). Pyrolysis energy systems produce more power than they consume, and can supply their own power
utilizing waste heat from the system. Therefore, this technology could be deployed without the need for
existing energy infrastructure. The biochar is a carbon-based co-product that has value as a soil
amendment, containing nutrients such as potassium (K), phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg) and calcium
(Ca). When placed in the soil, an increase in soil organic matter (SOM) is observed, along with increases
in crop productivity, water retention, and soil biological activity as well as a decreased fertilizer
requirement. Pyrolysis technology can be deployed on a large industrial scale, or on small farm or
community scales. In these applications it can produce fuel, heat, electricity and fertilizer from crop
residues and wastes. The deployment of new biochar and bio-energy systems creates economic
opportunities for local communities through the creation of new businesses that develop to support its
infrastructure (suppliers of bio-wastes, manufacturer and distribution of co-products, and related
agricultural application services etc.). Due to its adaptability to a wide range of feedstocks, over 60
organizations are now involved in biochar research worldwide.
(http://terrapreta.bioenergylists.org/organizations).
Biomass Transport
- manure Energy
Biofuel
- organic wastes Coproducts
bio-oil
- crop residues Industry
hydrogen
- wood waste
Pyrolysis
Residual Heat
Returned to
soil as bio-char
The EPRIDA pyrolysis plant located at the Biomass Conversion Center in Athens, GA.
Conclusions
Biomass fuels such as wood, herbaceous materials and agricultural by-products currently form the worlds third
largest primary energy resource, behind coal and oil. At best, conventional biomass to energy is considered to
be carbon neutral. Harvesting biomass to produce energy may not be sustainable because it can result in reduced
soil productivity by depletion of carbon and nutrients. Biomass pyrolysis addresses this dilemma, because it can
utilize waste products and about half of the original carbon can be returned to the soil (Lehmann, 2007).
Utilizing biomass pyrolysis for the production of fuels also has significant advantages when compared to coal
fuels because it can eliminate the need for post combustion scrubbing and can reduce nitric oxide (NOx)
formation (Bisio et al., 1995). In fact such energy is actually CARBON NEGATIVE, because for each carbon
molecule recycled back to the atmosphere, one is buried in the soil, so the net effect is to reduce atmospheric
CO2!
The deployment of biomass pyrolysis systems can create new local businesses, job opportunities and raise the
income of people in rural communities (Okimori et al., 2003). Farming communities can benefit most from this
system because the biochar co-product can reduce or eliminate purchased fertilizers while sequestering
atmospheric CO2 (Glaser and others., 2002). This can create new profit centers for landowners by creating
carbon credits and energy, which farmers can use or sell. This can decentralize fertilizer and energy distribution,
making resources more available to farmers. It can reduce agricultural dependence on petroleum and natural gas
based products by allowing regional energy production that is cost competitive with fossil fuels.
Although biomass pyrolysis represents only a small portion of energy production worldwide it has the potential
to generate energy at a lower cost than other energy systems. With its carbon negative footprint, biomass
pyrolysis has the ability to do this in a way that can contribute to reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Given
that 1) soil organic carbon is one of the largest reservoirs in interaction with the atmosphere and 2) enhancing
natural processes is thought to be the most cost-effective means of reducing atmospheric CO2; biomass
pyrolysis provides a way forward toward overcoming the obstacles that are facing biofuels production today. In
the words of USDA Soil Scientist, David Laird, we now have A WinWinWin Scenario for Simultaneously
Producing Bioenergy, Permanently Sequestering Carbon, while Improving Soil and Water Quality (Laird,
2008).
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