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News
UK musos fund local biochar trial
Lismore’s Rainforest Information Centre (RIC) has received a grant from the UK based Artists for Project Earth to research and develop a farm-based biochar kiln.
Biochar is a charcoal that is produced by burning biomass at high temperature, which captures and stores carbon. Generally any organic material that decomposes releases carbon back into the atmosphere.
RIC founder John Seed said there was a lot of interest in biochar technology all over the world, but most of the research was for projects in the $1 million to $40 million bracket.
“All of those projects will require a huge amount of resources and trucks coming and going,” he said. “We wanted one that would work on a (conventional) farm.”
The design and production co-ordination will be done by Geoff Moxham, a Terania Creek-based alternative energy enthusiast. He will oversee a team that will build a one cubic metre kiln and two smaller kilns.
“Our project is aimed at the little people; small farmers and for people to be able to replicate it in the third world. There is a commitment as part of the grant for it to be creative commons (copyright free). We have to produce a set of plans in pdf form that can be emailed to anyone,” Mr Moxham said.
He said the aim of the experiment was to maximise the amount of charcoal produced, whilst minimising emissions.
As well as locking up carbon, the biochar is returned to the soil and acts like a “high rise, five star accommodation for bugs” which improves soil quality and crop yields, Mr Moxham said.
“It’s like the coral reef of the soil.”
The group received £5000 along with 31 other projects around the world, all funded by the sale of world music CDs.
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