Biochar in India

Syllabus: Energy

Source:  TH

Context: India is set to launch its carbon credit trading market in 2026, and biochar is emerging as a promising CO₂ removal technology with applications in agriculture, construction, and energy.

About Biochar in India:

What is Biochar?

Biochar is a carbon-rich byproduct formed by pyrolysis (burning biomass without oxygen) of agricultural residue or organic municipal waste. It is porous, stable, and long-lasting, making it a natural carbon sink when added to soil.

India’s Untapped Biochar Potential

• Agricultural and waste resource base: India produces over 600 million tonnes of agri-residue and 60 million tonnes of municipal solid waste annually.
• Carbon removal: Using 30–50% of this waste, 15–26 million tonnes of biochar can be generated, removing 0.1 gigatonnes of CO₂-eq per year.
• Job creation: Decentralised production at village level could create up to 5.2 lakh rural jobs.

Example: Punjab’s stubble burning crisis can be addressed by converting crop residue into biochar, reducing air pollution and creating rural livelihoods.

Multisectoral Benefits of Biochar:

• Byproducts and Energy Potential:

• • Syngas (20–30 MT) and bio-oil (24–40 MT) can generate 8–13 TWh electricity annually.
  • Can replace 0.4–0.7 million tonnes of coal, reducing fossil fuel dependence.
  • Bio-oil can offset 8% of India’s diesel/kerosene use, cutting 2% of fossil-fuel emissions.

• Example: Maharashtra pilot projects have used pyrolysis gas for rural micro-grids, reducing diesel generator use.

• Agriculture and Soil Health:

• • Improves water retention and reduces fertilizer needs by 10–20%.
  • Enhances crop yields by 10–25%, especially in semi-arid, nutrient-depleted soils.
  • Reduces N₂O emissions by 30–50%, a gas 273x more potent than CO₂.

• Example: Andhra Pradesh Community Managed Natural Farming uses biochar to improve soil organic carbon content.

• Construction Sector Use:

• • Adding 2–5% biochar to concrete:
    • Boosts mechanical strength
    • Increases heat resistance by 20%
    • Sequesters ~115 kg CO₂/m³
  • Offers green alternative to cement in India’s booming infrastructure sector.

• Example: IIT-Madras research shows biochar-concrete mix reduces embodied carbon in buildings.

• Wastewater Treatment:

• • 1 kg of biochar can treat 200–500 litres of wastewater.
  • India generates 70 billion litres/day, with 72% untreated — huge demand potential for biochar.
  • Ideal for decentralised wastewater solutions in urban slums and rural areas.

Challenges to Large-Scale Adoption of Biochar:

• Absence of Standardised Feedstock Markets: Lack of uniform pricing and quality standards for agricultural residue and biomass feedstock makes large-scale procurement and processing commercially unviable.
• Weak Carbon Accounting and MRV Frameworks: Inadequate monitoring, reporting, and verification systems undermine credibility in international carbon markets, discouraging investor participation.
• Limited R&D and Localisation: Insufficient region-specific research on pyrolysis technologies and biomass optimisation hampers productivity and suitability across agro-climatic zones.
• Fragmented Policy and Institutional Coordination: Biochar remains excluded from mainstream agriculture, waste, energy, and climate policies, creating policy silos that block integrated solutions.
• Lack of Scalable Business Models: Absence of financial incentives, start-up incubation, or private sector participation has prevented the emergence of commercially viable biochar enterprises at scale.

Way Forward:

• Policy Integration:

• • Include biochar in:
    • Crop Residue Management programs
    • State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCCs)
    • National Bio-Energy and Waste Management Policies

• Carbon Market Recognition:

• • Recognise biochar as an eligible carbon removal pathway under the Indian Carbon Market, enabling credit-based income for farmers and entrepreneurs.

• Strengthen R&D:

• • Develop agro-climatic zone-wise standards.
  • Promote indigenous pyrolysis technologies for decentralised, low-cost deployment.

• Awareness and Training:

• • Farmer extension services, agri-tech platforms, and local panchayats must be sensitised to biochar benefits and production.

Conclusion:

Biochar is not a silver bullet, but a scientifically validated, multi-sectoral tool to meet India’s dual goals of climate action and inclusive development. With strategic policy integration, market recognition, and community-driven implementation, biochar can become central to India’s carbon-neutral growth narrative.