Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee
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Waste to Net Zero (Biochar Program)
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WICC has partnered with Murdoch University’s Dr Xiangpeng Gao, Prof Parisa A. Bahri, and Dr Gloria Rupf from Engineering and Energy at the College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education on the ‘Green waste towards net zero’ project. The ‘Future Carbon’ project is co-funded by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Denmark Shire. The project aims to safely convert Denmark’s green waste (around 800 tonnes per annum) into biochar and explore using it on-farm to sequester carbon and improve farm productivity. 
Biochar is essentially charcoal.  It has been used for thousands of years in agriculture to improve water retention, nutrient efficiency, soil biology and more.  Biochar is rich in carbon and can be stored in the soil for thousands of years.  Unfortunately it is difficult to find a steady supply of quality biochar in the SW of WA.
The research team lead by Dr Gao at Murdoch University is leading the research, process design, and techno-economic analysis of the proposed project. Dr Gao said “our research team has experience in experiments and techno-economic analysis to assess if the proposed concept is achievable technically and economically, and meet safety and carbon sequestration standards while reducing costs of waste disposal”.
Instead of transporting or burning the green waste brought to Denmark’s Waste Transfer Station, WICC has sought solutions that benefit farmers and the community. The benefits include a local supply of quality biochar, reduced costs to the Denmark Shire for green waste processing, and reduced carbon emissions. Farmers profitably using biochar to improve their economic and ecological credentials is under research investigation globally. The wide-ranging uses of biochar include binding more fertiliser to paddocks and not in local waterways, improving dairy milk production when fed in milker rations, and even better pasture and tree growth. What often prevents biochar from being used on farms is a sustainable supply of quality low-cost biochar.   
Dr Gao explains “In addition to farming there are many opportunities for reducing pollution by producing biochar from green waste in Denmark. A good example is the coproduction of biochar and heavy bio-oil pellets of excellent mechanical structure, and green chemicals extracted from light bio-oils from pyrolysis of the green waste. The biochar-based pellets can be used to produce green hydrogen via gasification because of their excellent fuel properties of high energy density and low inorganic content. We will investigate what is most suitable for the Denmark region and the Wilson Inlet.”
“This project is an excellent example of collaboration between universities and communities to help translate the creative and novel research ideas into real life and practical applications” Professor Bahri said. 
  • Home
  • WICC News
  • Get Involved
    • Upcoming Events >
      • Soil Microscopy Basics
      • Holistic Management Workshop
      • Dung Beetle EOI
    • Membership >
      • WICC Membership Form
      • OKGG Membership Sign-Up
    • Funding Opportunities >
      • Soil Testing
      • Fencing and Revegetation
    • Report A Pig
  • Support Us
    • Kwoorabup Community Nursery >
      • Nursery Volunteer Register
    • Donate
  • About
    • Projects >
      • Current Projects >
        • Community for Cockies >
          • Plants Used by Carnaby's Black Cockatoo
        • Saving Boordenitj – Salvaging Bittern Habitat in Southwest WA
        • Cockies for Cockies
        • Healthy Estuaries WA
        • Dung Beetle Program: Phase 2
        • Ferals
      • Previous Projects >
        • Waste to Net Zero (Biochar Program)
        • OKGG Owingup/Kent Grower Group
        • Soilwise
        • WIGG the Wilson Inlet Grower Group
        • UPtake
    • Our Plans >
      • Lindesay Link Conservation Action Plan
      • WICC Proteacea Vegetation Survey 2016
      • WICC Strategic Plan and Constitution
      • Wilson Inlet Management Strategy
    • Meet the Team!
    • Our Catchment
    • Contact Us
  • Eungedup
    • Why Eungedup Wetlands needs to be preserved!
    • How Your Donation will be Use
    • How Eungedup Wetlands will be Managed
    • Our Donors
  • Learning Centre
    • Sustainable Agriculture >
      • Cartoon Collection - Earls Adventures >
        • Managing Water in a Drying Climate
        • Feral Management OKGG
        • Arum Lilies
      • Collection of Dougie the dung beetle cartoons >
        • Rotational Grazing
        • Stock Health
        • Pasture Diversity
        • Soil Chemistry/Nutrient Efficiency
        • Soil Carbon
        • Soil Biology
      • Interviews with local farmers
    • Biodiversity >
      • Interview with Marino Bocuzzi
      • The Abby Carnaby Chronicles
      • Weeds
      • Feral Management
      • Seagrass Report
      • Flora Surveys
      • Interview with Elders >
        • Interview with Elder Vernice Gillies
        • Elder Lynette Knapp
        • Interview with Dr Wayne Webb
        • Interview with Aunty Carol Petterson
        • Interview with Uncle Lester Coyne
        • Interview with Menang Elder Aden Eades
        • Aboriginal Rangers - back on country!
    • Waterways >
      • Wilson Inlet Estuary Sandbar Openings
      • Sub Catchment Reports for Wilson Inlet
    • How to Object to Mineral Titles
    • Our Data
    • Privacy Policy