Biochar: Potential as a carbon removal technology and its multi-sectoral applications in India
Biochar, a carbon-rich charcoal produced from agricultural residue and organic waste, is poised to play a crucial role in India's carbon market, set to launch in 2026. India generates vast amounts of waste, much of which is openly burnt, contributing to pollution. Utilizing 30-50% of this surplus waste could yield 15-26 million tonnes of biochar annually, removing 0.1 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent. Biochar acts as a stable carbon sink for 100-1,000 years, improving soil water retention, reducing nitrous oxide emissions, and enhancing soil organic carbon. It also has potential in construction as a low-carbon building material and in wastewater treatment. Despite its potential, biochar faces hurdles like lack of standardized markets, investor confidence, and insufficient policy support, requiring R&D and integration into climate strategies for large-scale adoption.
Key Points
- Biochar, produced from agricultural and organic waste, is a promising CO2 removal technology for India's upcoming carbon market.
- India's large waste generation offers significant potential for biochar production, capable of removing substantial CO2-equivalent annually.
- Biochar acts as a long-term carbon sink in soil, improving water retention, reducing nitrous oxide, and enhancing soil organic carbon.
- It also has applications in construction as a low-carbon material and in wastewater treatment.
- Challenges to biochar adoption include lack of standardized markets, investor confidence, and inadequate policy support, necessitating R&D and strategic integration.
Exam Facts
- India's carbon market is set to launch in 2026.
- India generates over 600 million metric tonnes of agricultural residue and over 60 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually.
- Biochar can hold carbon in soil for 100-1,000 years.
- Nitrous oxide has 273-times the warming potential of CO2.
- Adding 2-5% biochar to concrete can improve mechanical strength and capture 115 kg of CO2 per cubic meter.
- Authors of the explainer: Harishankar Kopperi and Suresh N.S.
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