A Path Towards Carbon Negative Heating
As we develop near zero net energy houses with no furnaces, can we start replacing strongly carbon positive fossil fuel powered thermal energy systems with carbon negative alternatives?
Here is one possible path.
The pyrolysis process that converts the biomass to biochar generates thermal energy that can be used for all ‘stationary’ domestic, commercial and industrial purposes, such as heating water, space conditioning, and process heat.
Further, we can take the biochar product of this process and add it to our fields and forests as an amendment that not only sequesters carbon for a thousand or more years, but also improves the health and productivity of our fields and forests.
Biochar can be made in a wide range of systems at a wide range of scales. Such as, for example, the World Stove or the Terra Preta Pot stove.
For an introduction to biochar, please see The Biochar Notes.
8 comments Jock Gill | Agriculture, Climate Change, Community, Energy, Technology
To support the goal of Carbon Negative thermal energy. I would suggest that any new construction that is designed to include a heating system that is carbon positive be required to pay a significant CO2 tax indexed to the CO2 it is expected to release over its full life cycle. The policy goal is to encourage and reward the use of Carbon Negative thermal energy solutions.
This single policy change would greatly encourage the shift to Near Zero Net Energy construction, with no furnaces at all, that use only carbon negative supplemental heaters. It is imperative that we minimize as far as possible the burning of polluting fossil fuels, or finite renewable resources, for space conditioning in at least residential and small business construction.
I will point to this from the Public Intelligence Blog, but geothermal seems to be the answer for all heating needs in fixed installations, it seems to me that biomass such as you suggest should be focused on mobile needs or on putting energy into batteries.
Robert,
Thanks for cross posting.
Two problems. First, if we convert biomass into a liquid, there is a lot of energy lost in the conversion. Further, the internal combustion engine it will be consumed in will toss away 2/3s of the energy in the liquid fuel as ‘waste’ heat. This is what I call the Two Thirds problem. Applies to centralized power generating plants as well. We need to solve this Two Thirds problem ASAP. It is a negative legacy from the 20th century.
Secondly, we need to create a multi-thousand year carbon cycle that takes CO2 out of the atmosphere and productively and profitably sequesters it in our soils, which are now significantly below healthy carbon levels in any case. We need to do this with carbon in forms that have at least a 250 year half life. Additionally, increasing soil health will support food security and independence as well.
Regards,
Jock
Hi Jock,
I’m definitely into this, but it would be nice if there were some product I could use today in my condo, for example. Have you come across anything like that? I could see this functioning in the developing world and on a district heating scale – cause that’s what it looks like has been done so far. What about individual units?
Keep up the good work!
Anne
I’ve watched Community Power Corporation, in Littleton, CO for quite some time. In full disclosure, I’ve recently become involved with them through Colorado Forest and Energy, LLC. CPC (www.gocpc.com)appears to have gotten a firm handle on modular bio-fuels combined heat and power (CHP) technology, and will advance toward full commercialization over the coming months.
Though small at 75 kWe, these units are far too much firepower for a single residence, and are best suited for schools, commercial applications and home clusters of 30-50 residences.
An oversimplified equation for this process is as follows: 80 lbs. Wood chips in per hour; 75 kWe, 300,000 BTU (heat energy), and 3.5 lbs biochar out.
Over the next 30 years, Colorado and the mountain west will be plagued by over 10 million acres of mountain pine beetle mortality. Lots of wood chips!
In Colorado, we call it “Beetle Juice!” After that, we’ll gasify your garbage…
[...] A CSE, operating within about a 5 mile radius, would convert locally sourced biomass into fuel for carbon negative heat for local buildings. The biochar produced by the heating systems would then be cycled back to the [...]
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