Philippine Biochar Association

New Philippine Biochar Association announcement...

"We are a relatively new organization that we formed a year ago in March 2011. We organize farmer members of the Irrigators' Associations in the Philippine countryside to produce and use biochar on riceland. We create a collaborative network at the town or municipal level between the Local Government, a local NGO, and the Irrigators' Association, and we ask them to measure and record each soil integration of biochar, issuing a certificate for every 1.1 tons of biochar integrated in riceland. We use these certificates to issue carbon offset credits in the local market for CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and ISR (Individual Social Responsibility).
 
Currently we have two biochar networks in the province of Zambales with about 1,000 farmer members each. The biochar is made by the farmers from rice hull which is plentiful in the Central Luzon rice growing areas. We have the first network in the town of Botolan, training the other network in the town of Palauig. The Botolan network has a production capacity of 3 tons of biochar per day during production period, and has issued 35 biochar integration certificates to date. We have already sold the carbon credits from those certificates as ISR in the local market. 60% of the proceeds are given to the town network.

Please check out our website at www.philippinebiocharassociation.com."

Recent Research on Biochar’s Potential in Soils

The following link leads to an article from Thayer Tomlinson, published by the Ecological Landscaping Association.
http://www.ecolandscaping.org/05/biochar/recent-research-on-biochar%E2%80%99s-potential-in-soils/
"... Until recently, it was believed that biochar’s beneficial soil impacts were seen primarily in soils with significant constraints, but two recent publications examine its impact on more fertile Midwestern agricultural soils, showing that biochar can benefit even healthy, fertile soils..."

Grow More Food & Fight Climate Change: Black Revolution

A few things can be high-lighted from this link to Re-char...

• nice little video on biochar
• Jason is an great example of young entrepreneurial talent, emerging from the biochar community
• they seem to be getting great results in tropical soils
• kickstarter seems to have worked well for their small-scale funding needs - I wonder if small project funding is possible in SEA?

Rice husk charcoal marketing from Vietnam

For those interested in biochar market development and pricing, Tom Miles has posted the following at http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/message/13370

“We producing rice husk charcoal in large quality want to find buyer. Our product can be formed in every shape as we make it as powder.
Please let us know if you want to have sample. Our EXW price fix at USD 450/ton. main port Haiphong”

There is currently no established market yet for biochar in SEA so pricing can either be set by international demand (the target of the marketing effort, above) or by other existing market values for the products of pyrolysis. The value of charcoal in SEA can vary a lot depending on,

• type of biomass used (& its location and value)
• biomass pre-processing (cost of drying, grinding, chipping, palletizing, etc)
• pyrolysis production system (& the quality of the resultant charcoal)
• charcoal form & post-processing (lump, natural, powdered, briquette, pellet)
• target market (retail, fossil fuel offsetting, industrial carbon such as reduction processes, activated carbon, specialist markets and applications).

I suggest that the most conservative valuation you can currently place on biochar (when you want to value it for commercial scale project economics) is to value it for is energy content. Charcoals should have similar CV to coal, so I suggest that the least you could ever value biochar is the equivalent price /tonne for local coal. In Malaysia, this is ~US$200 /T.

I believe its value to agriculture and the environment will prove to be much higher in the future but this is still to be demonstrated in the field(s).

Indonesian biochar application research - Recent publication

The Effect of Biochar on the Growth and N Fertilizer Requirement of Maize (Zea mays L.) in Green House Experiment

Widowati, W. H. Utomo, B. Guritno, L. A. Soehono

Abstract

Greenhouse experiments were carried out to study the effect of biochar and other organic amendment (Chicken Manure, CM; and City waste compost, CW) using on the growth and N fertilizer requirement of maize. The first experiment was carried out to study the effect of biochar application to maize growth, and then continued to study the residual effect of biochar. The second experiment was carried out to study the effect of biochar application on nitrogen fertilizer requirement. The results show that the first season of maize biomass of organic amendment of treated soils did not significantly different from no organic amendment. However, organic amendment improved soil fertility status, especially increasing C-organic, N, K and CEC. The biomass of the second season maize of biochar of treated soil was higher compared to the other treatments. The second experiment shows that biochar application decreased N fertilizer requirement. To produce 3.23 Mg ha^-1 biomass, it required 90 kg ha^-1 N for 15 Mg ha^-1 CM biochar treated soil, and 160 kg ha^-1 for the non treated soil.
http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jas/article/view/16140

Biochar Field Trials in Indonesia and Malaysia

IBI are currently profiling biochar research activities from the Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) and the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (UMB)...

Profile: Biochar Field Trials in Zambia, Indonesia, Malaysia and Nepal as well as New Biochar Characterization Research from a Team in Norway

"Field trial work in Indonesia began in January 2012 with several sites set up in collaboration with the Indonesian Soil Research Institute and UN Development Program. They are based in Sumatra (acid ultisol; corn, dry and wet rice), Kalimantan (acid sulphate soil; wet rice), West-Timor (alfisol; corn), and Sulawesi (sandy, acid soil; corn and cacao).

In June 2012, the team will establish field trials in Malaysia on degraded sandy soils using biochar produced from rice husk. Rice husk is one of the main waste biomass materials in the area and it will be produced at local rice mills (where the pyrolysis heat is used for drying the raw rice) and then compared to a material produced in a more controlled system based on the Belonio stove (a different stove model). The Malaysian partners include the University of Kuala Lumpur and the Malaysian Agricultural Institute (MARDI). The university of Kuala Lumpur has experience with producing biochar and possesses small scale equipment including a biochar experimental kit (BEK) which can produce a “designer biochar”.

Research associated with the production and containment of organic contaminates during the production and utilisation of biochar will also be undertaken...

• http://www.biochar-international.org/profile/Zambia_field_trials_and_research
• http://www.ngi.no/en/Project-pages/Biochar/Contentboxes-and-structure/Colomnlists/Groups/More-about-the-project-and-subprojects/Test-sites/#/ngi/templates/Page.aspx?id=50893

Biochar results from Tropical Hawaii

Josiah Hunt - Biochar and the Future of Farming 



"Josiah Hunt has worked extensively with biochar for several years now. A young farmer and agriculturalist, he has been researching the topic, educating on the topic and created a business focused on the production and distribution of biochar. While biochar is multi-faceted involving waste management, energy production, climate change mitigation and agriculture, biochar in agriculture has been the focus of his work. Josiah is a graduate of UHH and has been a resident of Hawaii since 2002.
In Josiah's TEDxHilo Talk, "Biochar and The Future of Farming" Mr. Hunt describes the process he employs on Hawaii Island for biochar use farming food crops. He clearly shows the benefits of using biochar in multiple farming efforts by clear players in our local agricultural community. Demonstrable yields were highlighted in this articulate and easy to follow talk. Organic farmers everywhere should watch this video..."

Thailand: Sustainable Decentralized Water Treatment for Rural and Developing Communities Using Gasifier Biochar

For some years colleagues and I in Thailand and the US have been working on charcoal/biochar as low-cost locally derived sorbents for drinking water treatment targeting pesticides and other hazardous synthetic organic contaminants.

We've just published some instructional videos and documents available for public distribution on the web. In particular, I would draw your attention to our new handbook: Sustainable Decentralized Water Treatment for Rural and Developing Communities Using Gasifier Biochar. 

Please have a look, let me know what you think, and feel free to forward far and wide! We're hoping to get these materials into the hands of practitioners, as well as to invite feedback, modification, adaptation and advancement of the research and field applications.

Warm regards - Josh

--
Josh Kearns

PhD Candidate

Environmental Engineering

Engineering for Developing Communities

University of Colorado-Boulder

Mobile (Thailand): +66 082 764 2523

Skype: joshkearns

Ed............ and now also in Thai..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIkMFnH2RgY

Call for Papers: Conversion Prospects of Biomass into Biochar in Indonesia - Malang 26-27 June 2012

UNITRI 2012 National Seminar - Malang, Indonesia 26-27 June 2012

BIOMASS WASTE MANAGEMENT AS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE, ADVANCED AGRICULTURE AND GLOBAL WARMING MITIGATION

Further to my earlier post (http://sea-biochar.blogspot.com/2012/02/post-titleconverting-biomass-to-biochar.html), the brochure for the seminar is now available and can be down-loaded from the following link:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/UNITRI%20seminar%20brochure.pdf

Abstract deadline in 1 May.

International Training Course on Biochar Production, Testing and Utilisation

Nanjing Agricultural University in collaboration with the University of New South Wales and Newcastle University is considering holding an International Training Workshop if there is sufficient numbers of people who wish to attend. We are asking for expressions of interest.

1. Target Audience: This training course will target the following groups of people.

• Decision makers in organisations who wish to develop policies and programs at national or regional level,
• Project managers who are designing and/or implementing either R and D, demonstration of commercial projects
• Senior extension personnel in agricultural and low carbon technology sector
• Owners or senior executives who are or have set up an enterprise that includes the manufacture of biochar or biochar related products.

2. Location: Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China

3. Timing: Sept 10th to 15th

4. Duration and Format: 6 days.
Lectures and discussion will be held in the morning and testing and practicals in the afternoon. A field trip to a pilot field trial will be organized.

5. Cost and numbers.
Participants from developing countries will not be charged a tuition fee but will have to pay their airfare, food and accommodation. Participants from developed countries and China are requested to pay a registration fee of EU350 for NGO’s and EU750 for commercial business and organisations. They are responsible for the airfare, accommodation and food. The registration fee is to cover cost of accommodation, airfare and food of trainers. A training certificate will be issued by the end of the course.
Maximum number of participants 30


For Course content and application details please refer to the following linked ...
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Nanjing_Training_Program_EOI.pdf

Professor Genxing Pan; gxpan@njau.edu.cn

Professor Stephen Joseph; joey.stephen@gmail.com

Biochar related research proposal for Laos and Thailand

-->

Research Proposal:

Producing Biochar from Waste Biomass to Improve Food Security, Enhance Villager Livelihoods, and Reduce GHG Emissions:

Lao PDR and Thailand Case Studies¹

An abstract of this proposal, which includes the establishment of Adam Retorts in each location, can be down-loaded from the following link...

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/52700813/Abstract%20Research%20Proposal_Mar.2012.pdf

1 Prepared by Richard J. Frankel, Ph.D. and David Morell, Ph.D., Adjunct Professors, Natural Resources and Environmental Management Center, Mae Fah Luang University, 333 Moo 1 Tambol Thasud, Muang District, Chiang Rai 57100, THAILAND; Phone: +(66) 53-916850-1; Fax: +(66) 53-916852; www.mfu.ac.th;

Email: rjfrankel@gmail.com; dmorell17@gmail.com.

More Biochar activity in Vietnam

Dr Stephen Joseph has reported on biochar production and application in northern Vietnam...

Enclosed is a report on work that has been going on in the North of Vietnam funded by CARE.
Large scale field trials of mixed biochar produced in TLUD drums is underway and about 60 stoves should be going into households now (or very soon).
Download Development of TLUD cookstoves and Drum Ovens in North Vietnam  from
http://stoves.bioenergylists.org/node/3101

Just out of interest I have integrated my TLUD with an aquaponics/vermiculture system in my back yard.
First harvest of lettuce, pak choi and Radiccio after 2 weeks.  Used this to make Pho
Download Schematic biochar aquaponics with vermiculture
http://stoves.bioenergylists.org/node/3102
Regards
Stephen Joseph

Biomass Gasification and the Benefits of Biochar - Dr Paul Olivier

If you are interested in biomass stoves (TLUD) or the multiple applications for small scale biomass gasification then I highly recommend a review of Dr Paul Olivier's work in Vietnam with rice husk biomass. His 10 page report (link below) includes reports on biochar agriculture trials in Cambodia and Laos using rice hulls. His report also includes an interesting summary of possible future distributed energy pathways for biomass.

Date: Sat, 3 Mar 2012 06:11:11 +0700
From: Paul Olivier <paul.olivier@esrla.com>
To: Discussion of biomass cooking stoves <stoves@lists.bioenergylists.org>
Subject: [Stoves] the 150 gasifier in operation in Vietnam

This is a TLUD forced air gasifier in operation on rice hulls.

Here you see the burner with burner housing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZDt8DfgSls&feature=channel
http://youtu.be/WXZvvoxCm1g

When a wire mesh dome is placed on top of the burner and burner housing,  this roughly doubles the amount of heat being transferred to a pot:
http://youtu.be/7fnGem9BQ7Q

Here it took 3 minutes and 42 seconds to bring a liter of water to a boil:
http://youtu.be/jK3UTe1Lxqk
http://youtu.be/80REBVTwpMo

For more details on this gasifier, see:
http://esrla.com/pdf/landfill_06.pdf

Thanks.
Paul
--
Paul A. Olivier PhD
27C Pham Hong Thai Street
Dalat
Vietnam

Louisiana telephone: 1-337-447-4124 (rings Vietnam)
Mobile: 090-694-1573 (in Vietnam)
Skype address: Xpolivier
http://www.esrla.com/

CONVERTING BIOMASS TO BIOCHAR - PROSPECTS FOR INDONESIA

 Dr Widowati, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Tribhuwana (UNITRI) in Malang city, East Java, Indonesia has asked me to announce their plans to host a biomass related seminar on June 26-27, 2012. The seminar is titled:

BIOMASS WASTE MANAGEMENT: FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY, SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND GLOBAL WARMING MITIGATION

A field trip is also planned covering biochar utilization on marginal lands in agricultural systems.

A leaflet is being prepared inviting speakers (oral and posters) to submit an abstract (250 words) no later than May 1, 2012. Published papers will be presented on May 29, 2012, then full papers should be included no later than June 5, 2012.

Further information will be provided soon but for now you may contact Dr Widowati from the details below.

Widowati, Dr.

Dean, the Faculty of Agriculture

University of Tribhuwana (UNITRI)

Block C, Tlogomas street, Malang 65144

East Java, Indonesia

widwidowati@gmail.com

Ph. +62341-565500

Fax +62341-565522

http://www.unitri.ac.id/

UNITRI, established since 2001, has five faculties i.e. Agriculture, Social and Politics Sciences, Engineering, Health, and Economics. Malang is nearby to the Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park.

www.biobamboo.org
Charlotte O'Brien, Director of Bio Bamboo, explains how to significantly draw down Carbon from the atmosphere and sequester it as a Bio-Char soil conditioner using Bamboo to fuel Pyrolysis. Adding the Bio-Char to depleted soil fosters the spread of Mycorrhizal fungus in the soil, which in turn creates Glomalin (which sequesters even more Carbon). The enriched soil then produces more biomass which can be processed into more biochar...the result is an exponential carbon draw down!
The process also generates a bevy of marketable bi-products.