Biochar

Why in News: With India set to launch its carbon market in 2026, biochar has gained attention as a promising CO₂ removal technology.

What is Biochar?

• A carbon-rich type of charcoal made from agricultural residue and organic municipal solid waste.
• Acts as a carbon sink and offers waste management, climate mitigation, and energy generation benefits.

Potential of Biochar in India

• India produces over 600 million tonnes of agricultural residue and more than 60 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, much of which causes pollution when burnt or dumped.
• Utilizing 30% to 50% of this surplus waste could generate 15-26 million tonnes of biochar yearly.
• This biochar production can help remove about 0.1 gigatonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions annually.
• Byproducts like syngas and bio-oil from biochar production can generate additional electricity (8-13 TWh) and substitute fossil fuels, reducing coal use and lowering emissions.
• Biochar can act as a long-term carbon sink, storing carbon in soil for 100 to 1,000 years.
• It offers a significant opportunity to contribute to India’s climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving waste management.

Byproducts of Biochar Production

Syngas (20–30 million tonnes)

• Can generate 8–13 TWh of electricity, replacing 0.4–0.7 MT coal/year

Bio-oil (24–40 million tonnes)

• Can offset 12–19 MT of diesel/kerosene, reducing 2% of fossil-fuel-based emissions

Applications of Biochar

1. Agriculture

• Enhances soil organic carbon and restores degraded soils.
• Improves water retention in semi-dry and nutrient-poor soils.
• Reduces nitrous oxide emissions (a potent greenhouse gas) by 30-50%.
• Lowers fertilizer requirements by 10-20%.
• Increases crop yields by 10-25%.

2. Carbon Capture

• Modified biochar can adsorb CO₂ from industrial exhaust gases, aiding carbon capture efforts (though currently less efficient than conventional methods).
• Acts as a long-term carbon sink by holding carbon in soil for 100 to 1,000 years.

3. Construction Sector

• Can be used as a low-carbon additive in building materials (e.g., concrete).
• Adding 2-5% biochar improves mechanical strength and increases heat resistance by 20%.
• Captures around 115 kg of CO₂ per cubic meter of concrete, turning construction materials into stable carbon sinks.

4. Wastewater Treatment

• Provides a low-cost, effective solution to reduce water pollution.
• One kilogram of biochar, combined with other substances, can treat 200-500 liters of wastewater.

5. Energy Production (Byproducts Utilization)

• Syngas produced during biochar creation can generate 8-13 TWh of electricity annually, replacing coal.
• Bio-oil can offset 12-19 million tonnes of diesel or kerosene annually, reducing fossil fuel imports and emissions.

Why is Biochar Underrepresented in Carbon Credit Systems?

1. No Standardised Protocols: Lack of uniform methods for measuring carbon sequestration and verifying outcomes.

2. Weak MRV Frameworks: Poor measurement and verification tools reduce investor confidence.

3. Policy and Market Gaps: Limited integration in national climate strategies and carbon markets.

4. Low Awareness: Few stakeholders understand biochar’s carbon potential.

5. Tech & Cost Barriers: High costs and limited scalable tech restrict adoption.

Ways to Enable Large-Scale Adoption of Biochar 

1. Support R&D

• Develop region-specific feedstock standards
• Optimize biomass use by agro-climatic zones and crop types

2. Policy Integration

• Embed biochar into crop residue management, bioenergy schemes, and State Action Plans on Climate Change
• Recognize biochar as a carbon removal pathway in the Indian Carbon Market

3. Market Incentives

• Provide carbon credits to boost investor and farmer participation
• Create viable business models and stable supply chains

4. Technology Deployment

• Install biochar production units at the village level
• Promote decentralized, small-scale technologies

5. Job Creation & Rural Development

• Potential to create 5.2 lakh rural jobs
• Link climate goals with inclusive economic growth

6. Awareness & Capacity Building

• Educate stakeholders
• Strengthen monitoring, reporting, verification (MRV) frameworks

Conclusion :

Biochar offers a low-cost, scalable solution to India’s climate and rural development challenges. With the right policies, technologies, and market incentives, it can play a key role in achieving climate targets while improving soil health and rural livelihoods.

GS Paper 3:

• Environment and Climate Change: Role of biochar in carbon sequestration and soil health.
• Agriculture: Use of sustainable practices for improving soil fertility and crop yield.

Mains Practice Question:

Q. What is biochar? Examine its potential role in addressing India’s challenges related to soil degradation, carbon emissions, and rural economic development.”