Don Hofstrand

• Agricultural Economist• Co-director, Agricultural Marketing

Resource Center.• Iowa State University Extension• President, Rural Development Partners

Comparison of traditional rainforest soils (left) with biochar plot (right)

Agronomic Benefits of Biochar

• Increase soil organic matter• Improve cation exchange capacity• Increase microbial activity• Improve nutrient efficiency• Improve soil pH • Increase yields

Environmental Benefits of Biochar

• Sequesters carbon

Biomass Pyrolysis to Reduce Atmospheric Carbon*

Current situation – 4.9 gigaton increase per year

Pyrolysis -- 4.0 gigaton increase per year• 50% of Global Crop Residues• 50% of Global Forestry Residues

Pyrolysis – 3.1 gigaton increase per year• 50% of Global Crop Residues, • 67% of Forestry and Below Ground Biomass (stumpage)• Forest Thinning

* Review of the pyrolysis platform for coproducting bio-oil and biochar

Environmental Benefits of Biochar

• Sequesters carbon• Reduce nitrous oxide emissions• Reduces carbon emssions by reducing

fertilizer and lime application.• Reduce nutrient runoff• Other

GHG Emissions from Corn EthanolCorn ProductionFertilizer and Lime 15% Nitrous Oxide Emissions 25% Seed and Pesticides 3% Fuel, LP Gas & Electricity 7%

Biorefinery Natural Gas 34% Electricity 11% Grain Transport & Other 5%

Total 100%

Biochar Revenue from Crop Residue

One ton of crop residue = .45 to .67 ton of CO2

$20 per ton CO2 = $9.00 to $13.40 per ton crop residue

$50 per ton CO2 = $22.50 to $33.50 per ton crop residue

Pyrolysis Produces Biochar and Bioenergy

Co-products of Biomass Pyrolysis

• Biochar (high energy density solid)

• Bio-oil (high energy density liquid)

• Synthesis Gas (syngas) ( low energy density gas)

Bio-Oil & Syngas

• Operate pyrolysis facility• Co-fire electricity production• Transportation fuel (gas and diesel)• Renewable ammonia• Other

Indirect Land Use Conversion

Food versus Fuel versus Carbon

• Corn Ethanol -- (compete with each other)

• Biochar Pyrolysis -- (compliment each other)

Ag Marketing Resource Center

• Renewable Energy & Climate Change Newsletter (AgMRC.org).

• International Biochar Initiative (http://www.biochar-international.org/)

• U.S. Biochar Conference – June – Iowa State University (http://www.biorenew.iastate.edu/events/biochar2010/registration.html)