The BidCarbon Foundation, a non-profit registered in England and Wales under CRN 15205049, has released a comprehensive guide detailing the requirements for installing 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 production systems at accredited Advanced Waste Treatment (AWT) facilities. This move provides much-needed clarity for stakeholders in the carbon credit market and the broader biochar sector. The document, last updated on May 2, 2024, emphasizes adherence to approved standards and technology lists.

The guidelines formally recognize two types of eligible biochar production systems: high-scale technology and small-scale technology. While the document acknowledges the existence of high-scale systems, it provides more specific details and requirements for small-scale technology. These devices are further defined by their operational method, namely as pyrolysisPyrolysis is a thermochemical process that converts waste biomass into bio-char, bio-oil, and pyro-gas. It offers significant advantages in waste valorization, turning low-value materials into economically valuable resources. Its versatility allows for tailored products based on operational conditions, presenting itself as a cost-effective and efficient More technology, which operates in the absence of oxidants, or gasificationGasification is a high-temperature, thermochemical process that converts carbon-based materials into a gaseous fuel called syngas and solid by-products. It takes place in an oxygen-deficient environment at temperatures typically above 750°C. Unlike combustion, which fully burns material to produce heat and carbon dioxide (CO2​), gasification More technology, which uses low oxidant concentrations to produce syngasSyngas, or synthesis gas, is a fuel gas mixture consisting primarily of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. It is produced during gasification and can be used as a fuel source or as a feedstock for producing other chemicals and fuels.   More. Notably, a mobile industrial-grade pyrolysis gasifier purchased through a retailer also falls under the small-scale category.

For new small-scale units to be considered eligible, they must meet a series of strict criteria. This includes having the technology, metering equipment, and pyrometer listed on the approved products list. The accredited AWT facility where the installation takes place must also be operating in accordance with all relevant planning and operating requirements. Crucially, the system must comply with dMRV (digital Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) design and installation guidelines and meet all consumer law standards.

The guidelines also address scenarios involving system upgrades, expansions, or full replacements. For any upgrade or addition to an existing facility, the new components must be on the approved products list and all parts of the system must meet current relevant standards. The total rated biochar output of the system must not exceed 365 tonnes per quarter. A full replacement of an existing system is also eligible, provided it adheres to the same 365 tonnes per quarter production cap and all new facilities, metering equipment, and components are on the approved products list and meet all current standards. These measures are designed to maintain a consistent standard of quality, which is essential for a credible carbon removal market.

SOURCE: Requirements for installing a biochar production systems