Leading Brazilian company Atvos and French biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More producer NetZero have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a biochar project in Goiás, Brazil. The initiative aims to utilise sugarcane bagasse to produce biochar, a process that can contribute to soil health and carbon sequestration. This partnership represents a move by both companies to expand their respective operations and explore new market opportunities.

The agreement involves a feasibility study and the development of a business plan for a biochar plant to be located within one of Atvos’s industrial units in Goiás. The project will leverage Atvos’s existing infrastructure and expertise in managing large-scale operations, with an initial focus on utilising its sugarcane biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More. NetZero, which currently operates two biochar plants in Cameroon and another in development in the Ivory Coast, will contribute its technical and commercial knowledge in biochar production.

Atvos, which has been in operation for over 15 years, manages 8 industrial units across four Brazilian states. The company crushes approximately 11 million tons of sugarcane annually, producing around 1 billion litres of ethanol , whilst cogenerating over 1.3 GWh of electricity, in Goiás. NetZero’s experience in developing biochar projects in agricultural contexts will be key to the partnership. The project is expected to remove around 12,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, with an expected investment of R$30 million. It is expected to start in late 2026, with the unit creating approximately 150 new jobs, both directly and indirectly.

The MoU sets the stage for a potential large-scale biochar production facility in Brazil. If the project proceeds, it would be the first of its kind for both companies in this specific region and would align with the global push towards sustainable agricultural practices and carbon removal technologies.

SOURCE: Atvos assina MoU com NetZero para desenvolver projeto de biochar em Goiás