Nigeria Introduces First Industrial-Scale Biochar Plant to Combat Carbon Discharge
Africa Leads the Way in Carbon Removal with Biochar
In an exciting development for the continent, biochar is leading the charge in Africa's carbon removal efforts. With its abundance of agricultural waste and rural labor, Africa is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in carbon removal.
Tito Jankowski, CEO of AirMiners, predicts that Africa could become the most affordable and largest producer of biochar. This prediction is backed by investments from prominent organisations such as Y Combinator, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and others, who are supporting the climate-tech startup, Releaf, in building a continent-wide network of biochar facilities.
One such facility has already been launched in Nigeria by Releaf Earth, the startup's subsidiary. Located in Cross River State, this industrial-scale biochar carbon removal facility aims to remove 40 kilotonnes of CO2e by 2030, with plans to scale up to 100 kilotonnes.
The benefits of biochar are far-reaching. It locks carbon in soil for thousands of years while improving crop yields and reducing fertilizer costs. A 2024 pilot in Cross River showed a 23% boost in crop yields, and smallholder farmers could see incomes rise by over 50% thanks to better harvests and saleable carbon credits.
Biochar's effectiveness in mitigating global greenhouse gas emissions is well-documented. Research indicates that biochar can reduce up to 12% of annual anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, methane, nitrous oxide) by sequestering carbon in soil for decades to centuries without compromising food security or land conservation.
Key aspects of biochar’s effectiveness relevant for Africa include long-term carbon sequestration, agricultural benefits, greenhouse gas reduction, and scalability and sustainability. Biochar is stable in soil for centuries, storing carbon that otherwise would return to the atmosphere, thus directly offsetting emissions. By improving soil fertility and water retention, biochar boosts agricultural productivity sustainably, important for African smallholder farmers facing climate stresses. Biochar reduces key gases like methane and nitrous oxide, which are potent contributors to warming, especially in tropical agricultural soils common in Africa. Biochar can be produced sustainably from local agricultural and forestry residues, providing an eco-friendly and economical carbon removal strategy applicable in many African regions.
While global research underscores biochar’s promise, regional implementation in Africa will depend on factors like feedstock availability, pyrolysis technology access, farmer training, and supportive policies. However, biochar is recognized as a viable carbon removal solution that aligns with Africa’s climatic and agricultural contexts, offering both climate mitigation and food security co-benefits.
Ikenna Nzewi, CEO of Releaf Earth, emphasizes Africa's natural advantages to lead carbon removal efforts globally. The process also generates renewable energy, enabling off-grid deployment. Verified carbon credits issued by the Riverse Registry will ensure transparency and traceability for Releaf's carbon removal efforts. Releaf converts palm kernel shells into biochar, a stable carbon-rich material.
In summary, biochar is an effective carbon dioxide removal technology with sustained benefits over long periods, able to significantly contribute to global climate targets, including in Africa, by combining carbon sequestration with enhanced agricultural productivity and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
- Environmental science, technology, finance, and business are intertwined in Africa's bid to become a global leader in carbon removal, as investments from climate-tech startups like Releaf are used to build biochar facilities across the continent.
- Tito Jankowski, CEO of AirMiners, has predicted that Africa could become the most affordable and largest producer of biochar, a prediction bolstered by investments from prominent organizations such as Y Combinator, Breakthrough Energy Ventures, and others.
- The effectiveness of biochar in environmental science extends beyond carbon sequestration, as it also improves crop yields, reduces fertilizer costs, and offers smallholder farmers the opportunity to earn income from saleable carbon credits.
