Pyrolysis, Biochar, and Crop Residues: Is this an Economic Proposition?.

There is the possibility of using pyrolysis on agricultural cropping residues and/or energy crops to make the mix of energy products and biochar.  In turn the biochar can be returned to the soil as a nutrient enhancement and a form of carbon sequestration.  Thus generates economically valuable energy commodities biooil, and biogas plus carbon sequestration and altered needs for tillage and nutrients.  However, in order to do this a large quantity of a bulky agricultural commodity needs to be transported, a large capital intensive investment installed, a heat intensive process used, and the char hauled back then applied to the field.  The overall economics of this prospect are explored.