What is Biochar?

With the launch of the Indian carbon market in 2026, biochar is poised to become a crucial carbon removal technology.

What is Biochar?

• Biochar is a carbon-rich charcoal produced from agricultural residue and municipal solid waste, offering a sustainable way to manage waste and capture carbon.

Key Benefits and Potential in India

• Waste Management: India produces over 600 million metric tonnes of agricultural residue and 60 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually. A significant portion of this waste is currently burned or landfilled, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions like methane, nitrous oxide, and CO2. By using 30% to 50% of this surplus waste, India can produce 15-26 million tonnes of biochar each year.
• Carbon Sequestration: Biochar is a highly effective, long-term carbon sink. Its stable nature allows it to hold carbon in the soil for 100 to 1,000 years, helping to remove an estimated 0.1 gigatonnes of CO2-equivalent annually.
• Agricultural and Environmental Advantages:
  • Soil Health: Applying biochar to soil can improve its water retention, which is particularly beneficial for semi-dry and nutrient-depleted soils. It also enhances soil organic carbon, helping to restore degraded land.
  • Nitrous Oxide Mitigation: The application of biochar can reduce nitrous oxide emissions from agriculture by 30-50%. This is a significant benefit, as nitrous oxide has a global warming potential 273 times greater than CO2.
• Economic Byproducts: The production process of biochar also yields valuable byproducts, including syngas (20-30 million tonnes) and bio-oil (24-40 million tonnes), which can be used to generate electricity and fuel. This provides additional economic incentives for its large-scale adoption.