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Unpacking the Carbon Balance: Biochar Production from Forest Residues and Its Impact on Sustainability

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  • Diego Voccia

    (Department of Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy)

  • Lucrezia Lamastra

    (Department of Sustainable Food Process, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy)

Abstract

Climate change demands urgent action to limit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and explore methods for atmospheric carbon removal. Forest residues, a significant biomass resource, represent a readily available solution. With the use of life cycle assessment (LCA), this study investigates the environmental advantages of thermochemical processes utilizing forest residues to produce valuable energy-dense products, like syngas, bio-oil, and biochar, providing a carbon sink. While slow pyrolysis emphasizes biochar production for carbon sequestration, gasification focuses on bioenergy generation. This research evaluates the environmental performance of both techniques in terms of carbon sequestration and GHG emissions mitigation. This comprehensive analysis aims to identify critical factors influencing the environmental sustainability of thermochemical processes in forest management. The findings aim to contribute to achieving sustainable development goals by highlighting the environmental advantages of biochar in mitigating climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Diego Voccia & Lucrezia Lamastra, 2024. "Unpacking the Carbon Balance: Biochar Production from Forest Residues and Its Impact on Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:17:y:2024:i:18:p:4582-:d:1476827
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mika Pahnila & Aki Koskela & Petri Sulasalmi & Timo Fabritius, 2023. "A Review of Pyrolysis Technologies and the Effect of Process Parameters on Biocarbon Properties," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-27, October.
    2. Lina Kieush & Johannes Schenk & Andrii Koveria & Andrii Hrubiak & Horst Hopfinger & Heng Zheng, 2023. "Evaluation of Slag Foaming Behavior Using Renewable Carbon Sources in Electric Arc Furnace-Based Steel Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-25, June.
    3. Sahar Safarian, 2023. "Climate Impact Comparison of Biomass Combustion and Pyrolysis with Different Applications for Biochar Based on LCA," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-11, July.
    4. Joeri Rogelj & Alexander Popp & Katherine V. Calvin & Gunnar Luderer & Johannes Emmerling & David Gernaat & Shinichiro Fujimori & Jessica Strefler & Tomoko Hasegawa & Giacomo Marangoni & Volker Krey &, 2018. "Scenarios towards limiting global mean temperature increase below 1.5 °C," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 8(4), pages 325-332, April.
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