What is biomass to energy?
Biomass to energy is exactly what it sounds like; taking biomass (such as wood), and turning it into usable energy! In basic terms, every living thing has stores of energy. Where does this energy go when those living things start to break down? Well, if left to its own devices, the energy from biomass would just leak back into the environment in forms such as heat and carbon dioxide. Why not capture that energy and use it?
There are many different methods to achieving this; anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis, and many more! Each method harnesses the power given off during the naturally occurring cycle of decomposition.
Graphic from https://www.yournec.org/exploring-energy-woody-biomass/
Where does biochar come in?
Many of the methods for converting biomass to energy (like pyrolysis and gasification) can result in biochar.
So what is biochar?
Biochar is a carbon-rich material similar to charcoal, produced by heating organic biomass in a low-oxygen environment—a process known as pyrolysis. Biochar is used primarily as a soil amendment. This is due to its ability to enhance soil fertility, improve water retention, and sequester carbon, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation. This method stabilizes the carbon in the biomass, converting it into a carbon-rich, porous material that has numerous agricultural and environmental benefits.