Waste to Net Zero (Biochar Program)
|
|
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.
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.