Era of biochar -project seeks alternatives to overcome the local challenges caused by decreasing the energy use of peat. The project aims at finding versatile new sources of livelihood and simultaneously foster achievement of emission reductions by introducing carbon sinks. The Era of biochar – project covers the whole biochar value chain from raw materials and their cultivation to the different uses of products. In the case of raw materials, the potential of old peat production fields in cultivation of sustainable raw materials and use of alternative and economic raw materials for biochar production are discovered. Alternative raw materials include for example demolition wood from construction, hemp and wet (waste)biomass. The project focuses on pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization for char production especially from sustainability point of view. For example, environmental and economic impacts are improved by increasing energy efficiency of pyrolysis process with the help of a digital twin and by seeking alternatives for utilization of the bio/hydrochar process by-products. The sustainability of the production and the products will be systematically evaluated during the project. Business opportunities related to production and products will be evaluated also from an international perspective. The Era of Biochar will consider especially soil amendments, fertilizers, metallurgical applications, water purification and plant health improvement applications as the uses of the char products. Alternative new uses are discovered by combining information from product quality and composition with needs assessments. The long-term impacts of biochar use related to the carbon binding capacity of soil after biochar addition is systematically followed to be able to proof the formation of carbon sinks and to develop reliable model for forecasting the soil carbon binding capacity. The results of the project are disseminated and communicated comprehensively to increase biochar awareness in the Northern Ostrobothnia and Ostrobothnia areas and to increase the versatility and collaboration between the business sectors. This broad project, as a whole, is realized in collaboration of participants and stakeholders from several areas of expertise.
