🔥🌿 Permanence of Biochar Carbon Removal (#BCR) confirmed in peer-reviewed study 🌿🔥

BCR is the most shovel-ready, durable carbon dioxide removal (#CDR) technology we have. It accounted for 87-92% of all deliveries in 2022/23 (cdr.fyi), has a technology readiness level (#trl) of 8+, and is growing at a CAGR of 68% (in Europe, EBI Market Study 2023).

📚 After the groundbreaking paper on BCR permanence in April (linked in the comments), today´s peer-reviewed study by Hamed Sanei, Arka Rudra, Zia Møller Moltesen Przyswitt, Sofie Kousted, Marco Benkhettab Sindlev, Xiaowei Zheng, Søren Bom Nielsen, and Henrik I. Petersen from Aarhus University and the Geological Survey of Denmark & Greenland (#GEUS) presents an even more compelling and extensive perspective on the topic.

🥊 The punchline: among the 64 European biochar samples examined, an astounding 76% can be classified as pure inertinite. Inertinite stands out as one of the most stable forms of carbon present in the Earth's crust, exhibiting permanence on a geological timescale, equivalent to a half-life of ≥100 million years.

🔍 The paper introduces a benchmark of permanence, suggesting the use of a 2% random reflectance (IBRo2%) to ensure lasting carbon removal by biochar. Most biochar produced at temperatures exceeding 550 degrees celsius meets this inertinite benchmark.

❓But doesn’t biochar decompose? Less than 1.4% of the carbon content of the high-quality, pure inertinite biochars could potentially be so-called 'free hydrocarbons' that will readily decompose. This means 98.6% of this biochar is permanent on geological timescale, independently of where or how it is applied. And only this part of the biochar should get credited.

🌟This research is ground-breaking! The most powerful proof-point to date of why biochar carbon removal - with appropriate quality measures such as IBRo2% - can and should be considered permanent CDR, well past the commonly used 1,000-year industry threshold.

💭 What are your thoughts on this? Will this mark a step change for BCR?

🔗 Full paper here: https://lnkd.in/eSJcX-Uv

Note: This is the pre-proof version. The final version of the manuscript including the supplementary material will be posted soon.