Following participation in 2023’s Bio360 Expo, the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) will be hosting an Irish Pavilion at this year’s event, taking place this week on the 24th – 25th of January in Nantes, France.
Following extensive lobbying and advocacy by the Irish Bioenergy Association (IrBEA) and its members over recent years, the Climate Action Plan published by the Government in December 2023, contains for the first-time recognition of the role of both biochar and bioenergy carbon capture and storage (BECCS) as carbon removal measures.
What is Biochar?
Biochar is a real-world application that holds immense promise in the agricultural and industrial sectors, fostering environmental sustainability.
At its core, biochar is a type of charcoal that is produced through the pyrolysis of organic materials, such as agricultural by-products, wood chips or even certain types of algae. Pyrolysis is a process that involves heating these materials in the absence of oxygen, preventing them from combusting, crucially enriching carbon while reducing the oxygen content. This results in the production of biochar, along with bio-oil and syngas. The carbon-rich nature of biochar gives it its distinct properties and potential benefits.
In the ongoing pursuit of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels, biochar has emerged as a promising contender. This unassuming substance, often referred to as “black gold,” possesses the potential to revolutionise our energy landscape while simultaneously addressing environmental concerns. Derived from organic matter and agricultural byproducts, biochar offers a host of benefits that position it as a viable replacement for fossil fuels. Let’s delve into the captivating world of biochar and explore its multifaceted advantages.
The sounds of whistles and amusements returned to Stradbally, Co Laois, over the bank holiday weekend for the 59th National Steam Rally.
The rally, organised by the Irish Steam Preservation Society (ISPS) since its inception, is one of the biggest steam events on the island of Ireland and attracts thousands of visitors from home and abroad.
Following IrBEA’s Biochar and Carbon Products Conference, Colm Markey MEP visited Arigna Fuels to inform his work in the European Parliament on the carbon removals/carbon farming legislative framework which is currently been developed. This gave an opportunity for the MEP to understand how biochar is produced, its potential and role in carbon farming framework.
IrBEA along with THREE C project partners were delighted to be invited to visit Arigna Fuels processing plant facility located in the Arigna valley in county Roscommon. The company operated a coal mine until the 1990s and is now transitioning to manufacture and supply of a 100% based biomass fuel called ‘Harvest Flame‘ which is a renewable solid fuel.
Biochar is a stable form of charcoal, produced from a wide variety of biomass streams using pyrolysis technology. It is increasingly recognised for the important role it can play in environmental or agricultural applications, to be utilised as an effective carbon sequestration method and in its ability to decarbonise heating requirements.
We had the pleasure of visiting Stradbally Woodland Railway on Sunday 19th March 2023 and witness our biomass product, Harvest Flame, being used to power a steam locomotive. You can read more about the steps that the The Stradbally Woodland Railway (SWR), the oldest heritage railway in Ireland run entirely by volunteers, are taking to become the first carbon neutral steam heritage operation in the country HERE.
Laois is leading the way to de-carbonise and re-fuel the Heritage Railways while keeping everything moving along!
In September, Ireland saw the first passenger train to be hauled by a steam locomotive using a 100% renewable biomass-based coal substitute. This was on the Stradbally Woodland Railway, a short narrow-gauge line with steep gradients. Being in woodland, the old saying ‘from small acorns do great oaks grow’ could be perfectly appropriate for this significant trial. The fuel used was a stove-ready commercial product called ‘Harvest Flame’ that is made via the process of torrefaction from biomass – in this case olive stones, a residue from the food industry. This material is also suitable for small locomotives and traction engine boilers. So, Ireland’s original volunteer run heritage line has now also pioneered a first step towards carbon neutral steam heritage. Read more HERE