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2009 National Biochar Conference Presentation
This document discusses how carbon offsets could support biochar projects and some of the methodology issues involved. It outlines the theory behind offsets and trends in the US offset market favoring domestic projects that destroy methane emissions or involve sequestration through forestry or soil management. The document discusses potential greenhouse gas reductions from biochar projects and issues with developing methodologies around ensuring permanent sequestration, ownership, and environmental impacts. It also covers how The Climate Trust currently funds offset projects and the development process involved.
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2009 National Biochar Conference Presentation
- 1. Carbon Markets and Biochar:An Offset Buyers Perspective North American Biochar Conference August 10th, 2009 Peter Weisberg Offset Project Analyst pweisberg@climatetrust.org 503-238-1915
- 2. Outline • Theory ofoffsets • How offsets could support biochar projects • Methodology issues • Current funding from The Climate Trust
- 4. Source: The McKinseyQuarterly. 2007. “A cost curve for greenhouse gas reductions.”
- 8. US Offset Market •Trends –Fossil fuels will likely be capped –Favor domestic projects over international projects • Destroying methane emissions • Sequestration – Forestry – Soil Management – Biochar?
- 9. Sequestration Projects • CleanDevelopment Mechanism – Reforestation/afforestation only – Temporary credits HFCs, PFCs & N2O reduction 27% Renewables 35% CH4 reduction & Cement & Coal mine/bed 20% Supply-side EE 10% Fuel switch 7% Demand-side EE 1% Afforestation & Reforestation 0.4% Transport 0.2% Expected CERs Until 2012 (%) in each category
- 10. Outline • Theory ofoffsets • How offsets could support biochar projects • Methodology issues • Current funding from The Climate Trust
- 11. $ = CO2Sequestered x Price •Low Quality US Projects • Chicago Climate Exchange: $2-$4/mt CO2 • High Quality US Projects • Voluntary Carbon Standard: $4-$9/mt CO2 • California Climate Action Registry: $5-$11/mt CO2 • Mature International Markets • EU Emissions Trading Scheme: $10-$40/mt CO2 • Projections for Early US Market • Markey-Waxman Bill : $10-$15/mt CO2
- 12. GHG Reduction ReductionSize Qualify for Carbon Finance? Sequestration Large Yes Fuel switch Medium Likely to be capped Less fertilizer fewer soil emissions (N2O and CH4) Medium/Large Hard to measure Less fertilizer less fertilizer production Small/Medium Indirect, hard to measure, likely to be capped Biochar GHG Reductions
- 13. Currently Methodologies Avoidance ofmethane production from biomass decay through controlled pyrolysis • Small scale • No credit for carbon sequestration, but… • Char must be “biologically inert” • Volatile C/Fixed C ratio lower than 50%
- 14. Next Step: SequesteredCarbon Carbon Gold methodology for proposed to the Voluntary Carbon Standard
- 15. Outline • Theory ofoffsets • How offsets could support biochar projects • Methodology issues • Current funding from The Climate Trust
- 16. Unresolved Methodology Issues • Recalcitrance •Guarantee 100 years of permanent sequestration • Carbon Gold: Volatile C/Fixed C ratio lower than 50% • Soil monitoring • What happens to char that erodes out of the soils?
- 17. Unresolved Methodology Issues • Ownership– Three entities, same reduction 1. Feedstock owner 2. Pyrolysis plant 3. Land owner • Carbon Gold: Credits pyrolysis plant • Sequestered carbon can only be claimed once
- 18. Unresolved Methodology Issues • Environmentalimpact – Heavy metals – Criteria air pollutants – Microbe health – Carbon already in soil
- 19. Resolved Issue: Waste Feedstocks •Leakage – Changes in emissions outside the project itself • Direct: Biomass fuel unavailable • Indirect: displace current farm land for biochar feedstock plantations land use change • Carbon Gold: “biomass that would otherwise have been left to decay or been burned in an uncontrolled manner”
- 20. Outline • Theory ofoffsets • How offsets could support biochar projects • Methodology issues • Current funding from The Climate Trust
- 21. • 3 Programs •Oregon Program • Smart Energy • Colorado Carbon Fund • 16 projects, $8.8 million in funding, 2.6 million tons of CO2 offset • Non-profit - Laboratory for innovative offset projects
- 23. Project Development Timeline ProposalDue Diligence Contract Negotiation Commercial Operation Annual Monitoring Upfront Payment Annual payment “upon delivery”
- 24. Peter Weisberg Offset ProjectAnalyst pweisberg@climatetrust.org 503-238-1915 x 207
Editor's Notes
- #4 Very hard to regulate every source of emissions