MicroCHAR® is an innovative, patented soil conditioner made from biochar enriched with natural nutrients and a biotic component – soil bacteria and fungi. Biochar is produced from residual biomass after anaerobic fermentation in an agricultural biogas plant.
Biochar production technology KARBOTECH fundamentally changes the way digestate is used – the original carbon is converted into stable black carbon – biochar, and residual nutrients from the liquid portion are captured in the porous structure of the biochar. The biotic component is tailored to specific soils to supplement the necessary types of bacteria and fungi.
KARBOTECH is located near a biogas plant. As a result, the LCA assessment confirms that one ton of biochar permanently removes up to 3.3 tons of carbon. Another advantage is the application of MicroCHAR® biochar to the soil on surrounding land.
Biochar is not subject to commercial transactions. Farmers obtain it free of charge.
The technology is installed and operated by agriCARBON at its own expense. The business plan is based exclusively on the sale of permanent carbon removal certificates. The biogas plant operator provides space, utilities, and digestate. In exchange, it receives biochar, or MicroCHAR®.
The agricultural farm gains a tool for an effective transition to sustainable and ecological agriculture in accordance with the principles of carbon farming and independence from industrial fertilizers and agrochemicals.
The additionality of the project is fulfilled in the production of biochar from fermentation residues, which prevents the reoxidation of biomass and thus permanently removes (biogenic) carbon dioxide absorbed in the biomass. Financial additionality is supported by the need to obtain funds from the sale of permanent carbon removal certificates, without which the project would be economically unfeasible.
