Biochar research and technology in Europe The way forward

Transcription

1 Biochar research and technology in Europe The way forward Current limitations COST Action, European Biochar Research Network WG1: Standardisation (European Biochar Certificate) WG2: Land use management WG3: Life cycle assessment WG4: Environmental impact (Basic research) Tools Bruno Glaser COST is supported ESF provides the COST Office Soil Biogeochemistry, MLU Halle-Wittenberg by the EU Framework Programme through a European Commission contract 1

2 Scientific background Critical Topics (risks): - Heavy metal accumulation - Generation of PAH - Phytotoxicity versus beneficial: - Heavy metal adsorption - PAH adsorption - Reduction of pathogen diseases Urgent need of focussed and synergistic EU action 2

3 Technological development PYREG GmbH Palaterra GmbH Carbon Terra GmbH 3R Environmental Technologies Ltd. Urgent need of focussed and synergistic EU action 3

4 Legislative issues Biochar Becoming Political Priority for US, EU President Obama recently announced he would work with European officials to create a framework for climate change European legislation blocks delivery of sustainable waste-derived biochar for field trials because Waste -derived biochar is also considered waste Urgent need of focussed and synergistic EU action 4

5 COST is supported by the EU Framework Programme Biochar as option for sustainable resource management TD1107 Start date: 26/03/2012 End date: 25/03/2016 Year: Starting Prof. Dr. Bruno Glaser Action Chair Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg Germany 5 ESF provides the COST Office through a European Commission contract

6 Major challenges and work groups 1. Production & Characterisation Char Archive, (reference set) Sample exchange Method standardisation Feedstock/ Technology Zurich 2. Land Use Management Study site exchange Synergistic field trials Best practise "recipies Helsinki 3. Economic and life cycle analysis Feedstock Technology Model scenarios Implementation Waste manage SME 18./ Ghent 4. Environmental Impact Biochar database Meta analysis Synthesis reports Review papers May 2013 Cranfield What is biochar? How to make it? How to use it? Is it economic? Is it efficient? How does it work? Is it save? Heike Knicker (ES) Hans-Peter Schmidt (CH) Constanza Zavalloni (IT) Christoph Steiner (DK) Nele Ameloot (BE) Simon Shackley (UK) How to legalize and communicate? Ruben Sakrabani (UK) Jürgen Kern (DE) 6

7 WG1: Biochar standard Schimmelpfennig and Glaser JEQ 41: (2012) 1. Input material Positive list 2. Material properties TOC > 50% O/C < 0.4 H/C < 0.6 Black carbon 10-40% of TOC => HTC is no biochar!!! 3. Contaminants Heavy metal tresholds PAH < 12 mg kg -1 PCB < 0.2 mg kg-1 PCDD and PCDF < 20 ng kg Standard and premium biochars => European Biochar Certificate (EBC) 7

8 WG2: Added value biochar products Woody residues Non-organic materials Litter Manure Separation Biochar Organic waste Homogenization Composting / Fermentation Sewage sludge Urine Sieve leftovers Soil Wood ash Compost Minimal / maximal biochar amount: 5 / >100 Mg ha -1 Time of biochar addition: The earlier, the better! Composting vs. Fermentation: Any type of biological activation Role of feedstock: The more nutrients, the better Glaser et al. Eurosoil Bari (2012) 8

9 WG2: Field trials and practical use 1. Iterative and complementary biochar field trials Pure BC, mixing, biol. activation Production HTC NTC Pyrolysis Gasification 3. Application Large scale production Composting Field application 4. Dissemination Demonstration Teaching Legalisation 9

10 Consortium: 25 countries, 70 members Austria Belgium Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Israel Italy Latvia Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia Slovakia Spain Switzerland UK atlantic climate continental climate boreal Mediterranean 10 Partners EU projects: NL Fertiplus (Kuikman, Oenema) NL Interreg (Starmann, van Haren) HU Refertil (Edward Someus) IT Eurochar (Franco Miglietta) Partners Industry CarbonTerra GmbH PYREG GmbH 3R Agrocarbon EVONIK Industries (Eco²) SmartCarbon.. Partners Policy BMU, Hesse (Haiko Piplow) COP 17 (Climate Action book)

11 WG3: Climate impact 11 Meyer et al 2011 Env Sci Techn 45:

12 WG4: Soil water storage (laboratory) Ø PWP Soil matric potential (pf) FC Plant-available water No biochar Biochar Volumetric water content Biochar increases soil water holding capacity by 100% Liu et al JPNSS in press 12

13 WG4: Soil water storage (field) 4,5 4,0 PWP pf 10 cm 3,5 3,0 Plow Min. tillage Low biochar (plow) slightly better 2,5 2, ,5 4,0 PWP pf 30 cm 3,5 3,0 Plow Min. tillage No biochar (min. tillage) slightly better 2,5 2, Glaser and Schulz Eurosoil

14 WG4: Database & Meta analysis Biochar feedstock Fertilizer type Soil reaction Jeffrey et al Agricult Ecosys Env 144:

15 Tools Research directions: Organization of meetings, workshops and Training Schools to which scientists and representatives of stakeholders and industry will be invited => Harmonization and quality improvement Yearly Biochar meetings =>In-depth evaluation and integration of results obtained in individual research projects Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSMs) => highest benefits from existing complementarities => creating collaborative research teams Coordination of structured dissemination activities towards academia, industry and the general public Providing an interactive knowledge platform and innovative web-based social networks => creation of groups and discussion forums in order to identify new stakeholders and to coordinate creative idea-generating processes Creation of an innovative, effort-stimulating feeling by a common goal among participants, in particular Early-Stage Researchers to mobilize their full potential 15

16 Biochar summer school Potsdam 16

17 Dissemination Action fact sheet Innovation report Research projects 1. Switzerland Biochar wineyard Biochar PAH 2. Czech Republic 1D Biochar-leaching Special issues Parliament magazine 1. EJSS Deadline: 10/31/12 2. Agronomy Deadline: 12/01/12 3. JPNSS Deadline:? 17

18 cost.european-biochar.org 18