South Carolina is a state of forests. Approximately 67% of its land area, or 5.2 million hectares, is covered in trees. While this resource is a major economic driver, it also presents a significant challenge. Forest management activities like thinning, which are necessary to improve ecosystem health and reduce wildfire risk, generate vast amounts of “woody biomass”—leftover limbs, debris, and low-value wood. Too often, this debris is underutilized, left to accumulate, or pile-burned, which can release greenhouse gases and exacerbate fire hazards. A new study by Sanjeev Sharma and Puskar Khanal, published in the journal 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 and Bioenergy, provides a detailed map for turning this liability into a powerful asset for climate mitigation and soil restoration. The solution is biochar.

When added to soil, biochar acts as a powerful conditioner. It can increase soil organic matter, improve water-holding capacity, and boost nutrient retention, all of which are particularly valuable for South Carolina’s sandy coastal and midland soils. Research also shows biochar can help manage soilborne pathogens and plant-parasitic nematodes, offering farmers a sustainable tool to protect crops.

The researchers set out to identify the most practical and efficient locations for biochar production sites. They used a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), a sophisticated method that layers multiple GIS datasets to find optimal locations. This “suitability map” included key variables like biomass availability, slope, wildfire risk, and, crucially, proximity to roads, existing mills, and croplands. By integrating wildfire risk data and a network analysis of transportation costs (an OD cost matrix), the study went beyond previous efforts to provide a more holistic and economically-grounded assessment. The results are specific and actionable. The analysis identified nine high-priority sites for establishing new biochar production facilities. These sites are concentrated in regions where the feedstockFeedstock refers to the raw organic material used to produce biochar. This can include a wide range of materials, such as wood chips, agricultural residues, and animal manure. More is plentiful and the logistics make sense: Orangeburg, Chesterfield, and Hampton counties.

The quantitative findings highlight the scale of the opportunity. The study estimates these nine sites could sustainably process 71,060.11 tons of available forest biomass each year. This would, in turn, produce approximately 14,211.92 tons of biochar annually. The analysis identified Orangeburg (2,717 tons/year), Chesterfield (2,622 tons/year), and Hampton (2,583 tons/year) as the counties with the highest production potential from these sites. The study also considered delivery costs, noting that processing (chipping) represents the largest expense (around $77 per metric ton), while transportation costs could be kept relatively low by siting facilities strategically. This suggests that converting this “waste” product is economically feasible, especially since the feedstock itself is often considered free or even a disposal cost for forest managers.

This research provides more than just a map; it offers a strategic framework for South Carolina to tackle multiple challenges simultaneously. By strategically placing biochar facilities, the state can reduce wildfire risks by removing excess fuel from forests, sequester carbon to meet climate goals, support rural economies with a new value-added product, and improve the resilience and productivity of its agricultural lands. The study underscores the potential of mobile 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 units, which could be deployed in remote areas to overcome transportation barriers. This work serves as a practical roadmap for climate-smart forestry, demonstrating how to transform a forestry byproduct into a cornerstone of sustainable land management.

Source: Sharma, S., & Khanal, P. (2026). Mapping biochar potential in South Carolina: A spatial strategy for climate mitigation and soil restoration. Biomass and Bioenergy, 205, 108532.