PYREG is proud to be among the 10 remaining finalists of the New Energy Challenge (NEC). Jointly organized by Rockstart, Shell, Unknown Group and YES!Delft, the New Energy Challenge is open to European and Israeli start-ups and scale-ups. The winning companies will be given the opportunity to connect with investors and experts, unlocking the knowledge, contacts, funding, and support needed to scale their business and help them to drive change in the energy system.

This competition is based on the premise that energy transition is an essential step to becoming sustainable – not only in terms of saving our climate, but also in terms of  short- and medium- term economic health. This is where the PYREG business model comes into focus, as we offer renewable energy, through the carbonization of biogenic residues into CO₂ capturing biochar (a proven Carbon Dioxide Removal  (CDR) solution).

In summary, PYREG NetZero Technology provides solutions for three critical problem areas:
1. The recycling of waste problem (we enable waste-to-value / circular economy projects)
2. The greenhouse gas emissions problem (our Systems remove CO₂ via biochar production)
3. The energy dependency problem (our Systems generate clean, renewable energy)

Moreover, PYREG NetZero Technology is aligned with the core objectives of the New Energy Challenge indicated below, as we provide proven, scalable and cost-effective carbonization Systems:

“Carbon capture, storage and utilisation are often considered too costly and inefficient to be used at scale, but scientific and technological innovations are rapidly changing this. By working together to develop and scale affordable and efficient carbon reduction, capture, and utilisation technologies, we can help all industries to meet their climate targets, create more circular economies and keep the planet’s warming within safe limits.” – NEC

Many thanks to the exceedingly professional preparation of the NEC Finals, supported by an outstanding and inspiring mentoring program. From a diverse team of mentors, spanning numerous industry segments, we have received valuable business advice!

Out of all the start-ups and scale-ups that applied earlier this year, the Top 20 entries were selected, based on the quality and potential of their business model, innovative technologies and digital solutions. In November, the ten finalists will pitch face-to-face in front of a selected jury of experts, on November 2^nd, at the websummit in Lisbon, “the world’s premier tech conference”. Then, on November 3^rd, the jury will select the winners of the New Energy Challenge 2022.

Der Beitrag We are a New Energy Challenge finalist! Let`s meet at the web summit in November in Lisbon! erschien zuerst auf PYREG GmbH.

“Einfach loslegen”, das war der Ansatz vom Fachverband Pflanzenkohle. Denn in der breiten Bevölkerung ist der überragende Klimaschutz-Nutzen der Pflanzenkohle noch lange nicht angekommen. Auf der Website https://klimakohlehoffnung.de/ gibt es neben dem guten Erklärvideo daher knackig aufbereitete Informationen, vor allem aber auch konkrete Handlungsempfehlungen. So geht Klimaschutz heutzutage: einfach loslegen!

Der Beitrag Biochar to mitigate climate change – how it works erschien zuerst auf PYREG GmbH.

A cross-disciplinary collaboration at Cornell University found that a majority of the U.S. public is supportive of soil carbon storage as a climate change mitigation strategy, particularly when that and similar approaches are seen as “natural” strategies.

The team analyzed results from a survey of 1,222 U.S. adults who reported believing in climate change at least “somewhat,” to estimate public support for soil carbon storage and how it compares to other leading carbon dioxide removal strategies. It solicited respondents’ perceptions of naturalness and policy support for five CO₂ removal strategies: afforestation and reforestation; bioenergy plus carbon capture and storage; direct air capture; soil carbon storage; and soil carbon storage with biochar.

In the final analysis, perceived naturalness was a strong indicator of support for soil carbon storage as a climate change mitigation strategy. Of the five CO₂ removal strategies, support was highest (73%) for afforestation and reforestation; soil carbon storage ranked second, supported by 62% of those polled.

Cornell University. “People prefer ‘natural’ strategies to reduce atmospheric carbon.” ScienceDaily, 26 May 2021. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/05/210526185839.htm>.

Der Beitrag People prefer ‘natural’ strategies to reduce atmospheric carbon erschien zuerst auf PYREG GmbH.

In order to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, as called for by the EU, two fundamentally different strands of action are required: on the one hand, the reduction of carbon emissions, and on the other, the creation of carbon sinks.

(source: Glen peters @ https://www.cicero.oslo.no/en/posts/climate-news/stylised-pathways-to-well-below-2c)

In the EU, this would require sequestering a carbon quantity on the order of 15% of 1990 emissions, or about 850 million metric tons of CO₂ equivalent. Without carbon sinks, also known as negative emissions, climate neutrality and thus the Paris climate goals cannot be achieved.

There are a number of viable methods for creating carbon sinks, also known as Negative Emission Technologies (NET), that actively remove CO₂ from the atmosphere. The key to carbon efficiency is sequestration (i.e., storage) over as long a period of time as possible.

(source: EBI White Paper adjusted from MCC)

The European Biochar Certificate (EBC) for quality control was supplemented in June 2020 with a new standard for carbon sink certification (EBC, 2020). This provided a scientifically sound basis for quantifying the overall carbon sink performance of biochar applications. Key elements include:

1. Biomass production must be carbon neutral, i.e., it must not impact existing carbon sinks.
2. Emissions from the entire charring process (pyrolysis) must be subtracted. In particular, this includes emissions associated with the transport and processing of the biomass, any post-treatment, and the energy required to start the pyrolysis process.
3. Emissions from transporting the biochar to the point of use and, if applicable, emissions from further processing of the biochar must also be subtracted.
4. The final use of the biochar determines the durability of the carbon sink. For example, for soil applications, a scientifically based annual decay must be assumed. However, if the biochar is used as a sand replacement in concrete, for example, this is not necessary because the biochar cannot oxidize in the absence of air.

Der Beitrag Biochar as Negative Emission Technology (NET) erschien zuerst auf PYREG GmbH.

It is not without reason that the Scandinavian countries are regarded as pioneers in the field of climate protection: in 200 points in the report alone, reference is made to biochar and its potential for carbon storage (CCS). This is still only a recommendation to the Swedish government to also promote the recycling of residual biomass into biochar in the future and to create incentives for farmers to use biochar to naturally improve their soils, build up humus and store carbon.

However, the country is already far ahead of its European neighbors with this recommendation: German authorities are still pondering whether they should even allow the groundbreaking new product of biochar on the field – here, the EU has already created facts, at least for organic farming, and officially allowed the application of biochar as a soil improver/fertilizer.

OFFIZIELLER BERICHT (IN SCHWEDISCH)
STOCKHOLM PRODUZIERT & UND NUTZT BEREITS PFLANZENKOHLE – MEHR LESEN
SKANEFRO Der Schwedische Saatguthersteller nutzt Pflanzenkohle für Erden & Rasen

Der Beitrag SWEDEN: Climate commission recommends use of biochar erschien zuerst auf PYREG GmbH.