Permanent carbon removal
for reliable climate impact

Biochar Carbon Removal (BCR) is a method of removing carbon from the atmosphere, that uses carbon stored in biomass via photosynthesis as a source for carbon removal. Biomass (organic residues) is heated at high temperatures and in the absence of oxygen. This is called pyrolysis. In this conversion process, the organic compounds of the biomass are thermo-chemically split and all volatile components pass into the gas phase. What remains is carbon in a solid, easily storable form: biochar. This process can yield various products, including biochar and renewable energy.

The basis is the carbon contained in plant residues. In the natural carbon cycle, this would be released back into the atmosphere as CO₂ via decay of the biomass or, for example, through forest fires. Through pyrolysis, biogenic residues are carbonized to biochar. In this process, biomass is converted into carbon under pressure and at high temperatures with the greatest possible removal of oxygen. This process prevents a large proportion of the CO₂ bound in the biomass via photosynthesis from escaping into the atmosphere. Depending on the carbon content and further use, one tonne of biochar binds around 2.5-2.8 tons of CO₂. The biochar is produced in a combustion-free process. If it is then used as a soil conditioner in agriculture or as a filler in building materials, the CO₂ ends up in a permanent carbon sink.

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) involves methods for removing CO2 from the atmosphere and then storing it permanently. Climate neutrality cannot be achieved without CO2 removal, because in all scientific scenarios residual emissions will remain even with very ambitious reduction measures.

The climate target of the Paris Agreement is to limit man-made global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. To achieve this, the main aim is to drastically reduce greenhouse gases released. However, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a radical reduction in CO₂ emissions alone is no longer sufficient to achieve this goal. To stay on the 1.5-degree path, we would have to achieve NetZero emissions worldwide by 2050 at the latest. This NetZero will be possible with approximately 10-15 gigatons of CO₂ removal per year. Rapid scaling of CDR technologies is therefore essential.

During pyrolysis, process heat is generated. This heat is excess heat and all emissions from its generation are already added to the biochar CO₂ balance. Therefore, this heat is CO₂ neutral and can be supplied as renewable energy to industries or fed into local heating networks. There it replaces fossil energy sources such as gas and thus saves these emissions.