Winner in the Air Category
Sonnenerde is Austria’s leading company in biochar production and product development from biochar. In addition to various highly fertile black soils, the company has also developed urban tree fine substrate, organic manure charcoal, and various feed charcoals.
Biochar is one of the few recognized methods to capture CO2 from the air and utilize it beneficially in product form. To meet climate goals, such carbon sequestration technologies are essential and must be implemented as quickly as possible.
Due to high demand, Sonnenerde has reached the next milestone with the construction of a completely new industrial biochar production plant. Even during construction, new standards were set: for the first time, biochar concrete was used on an industrial scale, and combined with timber construction, the CO2 footprint was significantly reduced. The new plant represents a completely new concept aimed at reducing long-term production costs, making biochar products more affordable for end-users—clearing the way for wider application.
The following ideas were implemented here for the first time:
- Compost screening residues will be used as raw material
- Heat will be utilized multiple times, including for a sludge drying system
- Emission of pollutants is virtually impossible with this concept
- The plant will operate fully automated and continuously (8,000 hours/year)
- 800 kWp photovoltaic system
- Biochar production capacity: up to 3,000 tons/year
- CO2 sequestration: up to 9,000 tons/year
ENERGY GLOBE Burgenland 2014
Special Award for Sonnenerde!
Project: Biochar Production Facility
Biochar is produced by carbonizing cellulose fibers and grain husks. The goal is to process it into black soil (Terra Preta), which has outstanding properties for humus building and CO2 sequestration in the soil. The project is also distinguished by scientific collaboration with numerous institutions (BOKU Vienna and TU Graz, Ökoregion Kaindorf), which are very active in the field of humus building. The facility can produce up to 500 tons of biochar annually. According to our calculations, an annual CO2 sequestration of 5,000 tons is realistic with this plant.
ENERGY GLOBE Burgenland 2012/13
Second overall place for Sonnenerde!
Project: Biochar Production Facility
Biochar is produced by carbonizing cellulose fibers and grain husks. The goal is to process it into black soil (Terra Preta), which has outstanding properties for humus building and CO2 sequestration in the soil. The project is also distinguished by scientific collaboration with numerous institutions (BOKU Vienna and TU Graz, Ökoregion Kaindorf), which are very active in the field of humus building. The facility can produce up to 500 tons of biochar annually. According to our calculations, an annual CO2 sequestration of 5,000 tons is realistic with this plant.
Austrian Climate Protection Award 2012
Sonnenerde awarded the Austrian Climate Protection Award 2012
For establishing Europe’s first waste law-approved biochar production facility, Sonnenerde received the Austrian Climate Protection Award 2012 (Innovation Category).
Press release Climate Protection Award 2012 – Sonnenerde GmbH
Burgenland Innovation Award 2012
Third place in the SME category!
Project: “Development of a Terra Preta”
This is a ready-to-use soil for vegetable and garden areas that requires no fertilization (eternal fertility). The most important component, inspired by the legendary “Terra Preta,” is charcoal, or in our case, biochar. This storage medium can temporarily hold all nutrients until needed by plants or microorganisms, preventing nutrient loss. Combined with a mulching system, this soil gradually enriches itself with nutrients and becomes more fertile year after year. A milestone in this development was the establishment of our own biochar production facility, where charcoals with targeted properties can be manufactured. The product “Riedlingsdorfer Schwarzerde” was successfully launched in spring 2013 after five years of research, development, countless scientific experiments, and practical tests.
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