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24 November 2009
Biochar Industry Response to CPRS Changes
Trials confirm biochar ahead of Copenhagen
In the proposed changes to the CPRS put forward today by the government, biochar has been
recognised as an offset generation pathway for agriculture through the National Offset Standard.
These offsets however won’t be counted towards Australia’s international climate change
obligations. Abatement from biochar will only transition into the CPRS once abatement is
internationally recognised and provided that other CPRS requirements are met.
This opens the gate for farmers to start adding biochar offset income to their bottom line, however
stops short of letting farmers contribute to the international targets if the governments inclusion is
not followed up by inclusion in the international agreement being formed at Copenhagen in the
coming weeks.
Biochar industry advocate Adriana Downie says “For Australian industry to remain competitive, the
government needs to ensure that new cost effective ways to offset emissions, such as biochar
sequestration, are not locked out of the CPRS. Therefore the government needs to ensure that they
take a strong position at Copenhagen to ensure new biochar methodologies are included in the
agreement for the benefit of Australian farmers”.
Chief Technology Officer for Pacific
Pyrolysis Adriana Downie says their Australian developed
biochar production technology will
stand up to the monitoring and
verification requirements of the
proposed scheme. Downie says “Pacific Pyrolysis, with the support of the NSW State Government,
have invested heavily in the development of an abatement study which quantifies and justifies the
emissions credentials of the technology to the National
Offset Standard proposed. We are keen to
have our methodologies accepted through the scientifically based approvals process established by
the federal government and hope the government will back Australian farmers by supporting the
acceptance of methodologies in the international agreement.”
“The incentives provided by carbon offset revenue will enable Pacific Pyrolysis to deliver a scalable
carbon abatement solution which can directly benefit farmers”
Research supported by the NSW Department of Climate Change suggests the for every tonne of CO2
emitted from the production of biochar from waste wood using Pacific Pyrolysis technology, 4.4
tonnes of CO2 equivalents can be sequestered beneficially in agricultural soils. Chief Technology
Officer of Pacific Pyrolysis, Adriana Downie says “The ability of the technology to decrease
atmospheric CO2 levels is verifiable and auditable. The estimate is conservative and based on solid
scientific grounding.”
Research conducted by NSW Department of Primary Industries, UNSW and others has positioned
Australia as a leader in biochar, an organic charcoal-like material that captures carbon, creates
renewable energy, and makes farms both more efficient and resilient to climate pressures.
Dr Lukas Van Zwieten, a senior research scientist from the NSW Department of Industry and
Investment who has been conducting research on the Pacific Pyrolysis biochar since 2006, says,
“Our scientific trials demonstrate that biochar can achieve long-term carbon sequestration in
agricultural soils while significantly improving productivity.”
For more information contact:
Adriana Downie, Pacific Pyrolysis. 02 43404911
NEWS 
