Goal:
The aim of MitiChar is to explore the potential of biochar to mitigate climate impacts of plant production.
Agricultural plant production emits large amounts of N2O, a greenhouse gas 300 times stronger than CO2. Mitichar aims to identify mechanisms that allow biochar to reduce N2O emissions and optimise them. Furthermore, the ability of biochar to store carbon and improve soil health will be examined. Mitichar will also investigate barriers to biochar implementation.
Plan:
Biochar pellets will be produced from mixtures of straw and biogas digestates at various temperatures and their energy balance calculated.
Through field experiments, the project will test the biochar’s stability, effects on soil physical properties and ability to reduce N2O emissions.
Barriers to wider biochar implementation and incentive structures will also be analysed through a farmer survey and investigations of legislation and regulations.
Expected results:
The project will produce knowledge about biochar production, process optimisation, N2O-reducing properties, barriers to implementation and incentives for widespread use.
The project has potential to create an export market for pyrolysis units and knowhow on logistics, trade, use and application of biochar.
Full-scale implementation of biochar from straw and biogas digestate could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Danish agriculture by 38%. This should be fully implemented by 2030.