BIOCHAR: POTENTIAL AND PATHWAY FOR INDIA

What is Biochar?

• A carbon-rich, stable form of charcoal produced via pyrolysis of biomass (agricultural residue or organic municipal solid waste) under limited oxygen.

• Acts as a carbon sink, soil amendment, and a multipurpose byproduct producer.

Potential of Biochar in India

• Biomass availability:

  • 600+ million tonnes of agri-residue annually.

  • 60+ million tonnes of municipal solid waste.

• Current issues: Open burning and landfills lead to emissions of CO₂, CH₄, N₂O and air pollutants.

• Carbon removal potential:

  • 30-50% of surplus waste → 15-26 million tonnes of biochar

  • Removes 0.1 gigatonnes CO₂-equivalent/year.

Byproducts and Energy Potential

A. Syngas (20–30 million tonnes)

• Can produce 8–13 TWh of electricity (~0.5–0.7% of India’s annual power).

• Can replace 0.4–0.7 million tonnes of coal annually.

B. Bio-oil (24–40 million tonnes)

• Can substitute 12–19 million tonnes of diesel/kerosene (~8%).

• Reduces crude oil imports and 2% of total fossil-fuel-based emissions.

Biochar as a Carbon Sink

• Stability: Stores carbon for 100–1,000 years.

• Mitigates:

  • Nitrous oxide emissions by 30–50% in agriculture.

  • High GWP: N₂O is 273x more potent than CO₂.

Applications Across Sectors

A. Agriculture

• Enhances soil organic carbon, water retention, soil fertility.

• Reduces fertilizer need by 10–20%, increases crop yield by 10–25%.

B. Construction Sector

• Add 2–5% biochar in concrete:

  • Improves mechanical strength.

  • Increases heat resistance by 20%.

  • Captures 115 kg CO₂/m³.

  • Makes construction a carbon sink.

C. Wastewater Treatment

• 1 kg biochar + additives can treat 200–500 litres of wastewater.

• India’s untreated wastewater: ~72% of 70 billion litres/day.

• Demand potential: 2.5–6.3 million tonnes of biochar/year.

D. Carbon Capture

• Modified biochar can adsorb CO₂ from industrial exhausts.

• Less efficient than conventional CCS methods but more sustainable.

Challenges in Scaling Biochar

A. Market & Policy Gaps

• Not integrated in carbon credit systems due to:

  • Lack of standard feedstock market.

  • Inconsistent carbon accounting.

  • Weak MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) systems.

B. Structural and Technological Barriers

• Limited R&D funding, fragmented policies.

• Absence of region-specific biomass standards.

• Low awareness among farmers, builders, local bodies.

• No proven viable business models yet.

Roadmap for Large-scale Adoption

A. Policy & Market Interventions

• Recognise biochar in Indian carbon market (to launch in 2026).

• Integrate with:

  • Crop residue management schemes.

  • Bioenergy missions (rural and urban).

  • State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs).

B. Research and Standards

• Invest in region-wise feedstock R&D.

• Develop utilisation norms based on agro-climatic zones.

C. Employment and Economic Development

• Village-level production units can generate 5.2 lakh rural jobs.

• Create new income streams for farmers via carbon credits.

D. Public Awareness & Coordination

• Cross-sectoral integration: Agriculture + Energy + Climate Policy.

• National and state-level awareness programs on biochar use.

Conclusion

• Biochar is not a silver bullet, but:

  • Offers a science-based, low-cost, and scalable solution for climate mitigation, agriculture improvement, waste management, and green construction.

  • With the right policy ecosystem, India can turn waste into wealth, and make biochar a key player in its net-zero journey and Sustainable Development Goals.