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Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Real climate mitigation – facts and fears
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
NumbersWhy emission reductions will not be enoughThe real problem: climate tippingsCarbon removal as a necessary complementChar as climate mitigationChar productionBiochar improves soil fertilityEconomic models
Content
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers and figures– 8 Gt carbon (C) (30 Gt CO2) annually– of which 2 Gt (estimated) is from deforestation– Current level: 390 ppm – 1 ppm CO2 = 2.12 Gt C– If there were no natural sinks:
3.77 ppm annual increase= 400 ppm well before 2020!
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
More numbers and figures
• 1 kg char buried = 3.67 kg CO2 removed• Half-life of charcoal in soils
Preston & Schmidt: 5 000 – 7 000 yearsLehmann: 2 000 – 3 000 yearsBird: > 100 years (grass wildfire, high oxidation)
• Half-life of biomass> 40 years (estimated)
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Why emission reductions are not enough
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Emission reductions only – is futile !
It is like cutting the branch – but slowering the rate !
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
7,68
7,53
7,38
7,23
7,09
6,95
6,81
6,67
6,54
6,417,84
8,00
390 ppm
0
10
20
30
40
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2016 2017 2019
Assume a 20% emission reduction in ten years For the entire world!
Current CO2 concentration
Reduced emissions
Gt C
arbo
n
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
7,68
7,53
7,38
7,23
7,09
6,95
6,81
6,67
6,54
6,417,84
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86
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2016 2017 2019Accu
mulation
Emissions
Gig
aton
nes
Car
bon
But, carbon dioxide accumulate in the air
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Accumulated
413ppm
7,68
7,53
7,38
7,23
7,09
6,95
6,81
6,67
6,54
6,417,84
16
24
31
38
46
53
60
67
73
80
86
8,00
389ppm
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2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2016 2017 2019
Atm
osph
eric
CO
2 co
ncen
tratio
n, p
pm
Emissions
Gig
aton
nes
Car
bon
Thus, even a bold emisson reduction will lead to a disastous increase in concentration
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers
Why emission reductions will not be enough
The real problem: climate tippings
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Antarctic ozone Arctic summer sea-iceArctic permafrost (going on)Atlantic thermohaline circulation (NADW)El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)Indian summer monsoonSahara/Sahel and West African monsoonAmazon rainforestBoreal forestAntarctic Bottom WaterArctic ozone
Tipping points = the Humpty Dumpty effect
FG
FGFG
Tipping points:
Non-linear changes – a fast change, followed by a very long recovery time
The tipping level
The tipping level
Systems prone to tipping:
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
The CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
280
300
350
400
387
Risk for tipping increase considerably over 350 ppm
ppm CO2
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Tipping points of the global system, example: Arctic sea ice
FG
Tipping level
The melting of the Arctic ice cap
– Tipping cause: Decrease of the ice-cap decreases albedo
more melting further albedo
decrease sweet water release– Possible result:
Sweet water from the polar cap close NADW
– Transition timescale: 10 years
No return
FGFGFGFG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected] FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers
Why emission reductions will not be enough The real problem: climate tippings
Carbon removal as a necessary complement
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Gt/yr
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0
Assume, a radical emission reduction
90%
This will not solve the problems
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers
Why emission reductions will not be enough
The real problem: climate tippings
Carbon removal as a necessary complement
Char as climate mitigation
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
By that, carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere.The process is called photosynthesis
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When plants add solar energy to the carbon dioxide molecules,
carbon dioxide is converted into biomass
FG
Carbon sequestration
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
However…
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After a century, or less, the biomass decomposes and releases the carbon dioxide again
It is like putting dirt under the carpet. It will reveal…
FG
Carbon sequestration
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Gt/yr
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A radical emission reduction can solve the problems!
At this time,the CO2 levelstops rising !
1 Gtnet seque- stration
if it is combined withcarbon sequestration !
Emission reductionCarbon sequestrationAtmospheric carbon
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
• A combination of – EMISSION REDUCTION– REFORESTATION
and– CARBON SEQUESTRATION with char
may solve the climate problems
However, this effort would dwarf the Chinese wall, the pyramides and the
first and second world war – together
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
If you convert biomass into charcoal
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FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
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..and bury it into the soil..Carbon sequestration
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Then, you have created a pathway for carbon dioxide into a semi-permanent storage
FG
Carbon sequestration
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers
Why emission reductions will not be enough The real problem: climate tippings
Carbon removal as a necessary complement
Char as climate mitigation
Char production
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Anila Biomass Gasifier StoveDesigned and built by Professor U.N. Ravikumar (Eng)
Mysore University, India
Biochar production
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Raw Material Pyrolysis Charcoal
4 kg drywaste biomass
1 kg dryhard wood
Wood burnsfrom thetop down
When the wastebiomass reaches
360 deg Cit begin to release
gases and turninto charcoal
AIR
The Pyrolysis gasesburn hot and last for
more than 1 hour
At the end of theprocess , the biomass
has changed intoabout 1 kg charcoal
FGFGFG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Simple char making at homeFill the bucket with biomass
Put the bucket upside down in the barrel
A barrel And a bucket
Make a fire outside the bucket
The char is ready!
The pyrolysisgasses takes fireMore heat!
Biochar production
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
The savonius pyrolyser
FG
FGFGFGFGFG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Lambiotte continouoscharcoal productionKiln
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
1000-Hour Demonstration of Hydrogen by Biomass Catalytic Steam Reforming and co-products (Completed May 17th 2007)
2007 Bio-refinery Conversion Project at University of Georgia
Danny Day, Eprida
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Commercial Facilty in Blakely, Georgia
Biomass Conversion to Activated Carbon and Electricity
Danny Day, Eprida
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Is there enough biomass for 2Gt?• Global cereal production: 2 Gt
– Straw: 2 Gt 0.5 Gt char• World wood fuel, 1.7 Gt pyrolysis burning
– 0.42 Gt char– paper: 0.3 Gt char
• Improved household burning by the poor (Pyrolysing stoves)– 0.4 Gt char
• Changed forestry and agricultural practice (5%)– 0.6 Gt Total: 2.2 Gt char
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers
Why emission reductions will not be enough
The real problem: climate tippings
Carbon removal as a necessary complement
Char as climate mitigation
Char production
Biochar improves soil fertility
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Charcoal works as an adsorption lattice for micro-organsism and
nutrient particles
FG
Biochar soils
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
1 gramme of well-made charcoal will have an inner
area of about 400 sq. meters
FG
Biochar soils
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Which means that one bag of barbeque char …will have an inner area of 1 sq. km!
FG
FG
Biochar soils
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
The plants seek contact with microorganisms
Richard Haard, February 12,
2007
FG
Charcoal after one year of application
Biochar soils
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Charcoal addition to the soil provides nutrient and water storage for mycorrhizal fungi
Their hyphae invade charcoal pores and support spore reproductionOgawa Kansai Environmental
Charcoal is sought out by soil micro-organism
Fungi on New Char
Fungi on 100 Yr Old Char
FG
Biochar soils
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Effects of biochar• Improve moisture retention• Improve cation exchance ratio (NH3+)• Improve nutrient retention• Improve soil microlife• Improve soil (and compost) metabolism• ’Shelter’ microorganisms from predators• Improve soil structure, aeration & water
penetration (glomaline ’crumbling’)• Improve soil pH buffering and stability• Improve root development
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Why?
• Humic acids are well known soil improvers– Char and humic acid complex are similar in
structure (which might explain similar effects)• The chemical surface of char attracts
cations (NH3+), and also anions (HPO4-) through ion bridges (Ca2+ )
• The physical structure of biochar works as a ’coral reef’, a micro-organism shelter
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Humic acids (there are plenty!)
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Oxisol(normal rain- forest soil)
Terra Preta(anthrosol: charcoal enriched oxisol, made by human activities)
FGFG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Numbers
Why emission reductions will not be enough
The real problem: climate tippings
Carbon removal as a necessary complement
Char as climate mitigation
Char production Biochar improves soil fertilityEconomic models
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
If you want to emit net carbon dioxide:
Situation of today :
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
And you must buy an emission permit
FG
You have to pay a tax
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Tax and permitfund
FG
$Payment
Permission
Emission
The PPEModel
(currently used)
The economist solution:Climate problems fromapproved carbon dioxide!
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
The arguments for biochar• The environmental argument
– Emission reduction is not enough, must be completed with carbon removal
• The chemical arguments:– Char is stable, an easy way to remove CO2
– Charring by-products: Heat and chemical raw material• The biological argument:
– Char improve the soils• The social argument:
– Charring stoves are healthier and not smoky
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
Probably not
FG
The arguments don’t speak to our immediate self-interest
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
To really get people’s attention,
you have to talk money
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
What about a fair carbon tax?
FG
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
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Carbon sequestration
fund$
FG
Sequestration
Validation
Payment
The SVPmodel
Another solution:Climate problems reducedby payment for sequestration!Alleviating:•Atmospheric CO2•Unemployment•Economy, if combined with emission tax•Global economic imbalance
Folke Günther Holon Ecosystem http://www.holon.se/folke [email protected]
An example1. A farmer may get 7.2 tonne per ha in seed
production2. That implies: 4 tonnes of straw3. Charring the straw gives 1 tonnes of char4. Assume a tax of 2.2 SEK/kg CO2 (Current) 5. 2.2 SEK/kg CO2 = 8074 SEK per tonne C6. Income 8 000 SEK extra per hectare
-- about the same income as from the seed !
FG