What is carbonization?
Thermochemical conversion processes in which organic compounds are broken down at high temperatures and largely without oxygen are called carbonization. The lack of oxygen prevents complete combustion.
When biomass is carbonized, about 50% of the carbon compounds are converted into biochar. In our carbonization plant, we produce biochar and thereby bind CO2 during production, resulting in “negative emissions” that help combat climate change.
Biochar production in Riedlingsdorf
Sonnenerde’s new production facility in Riedlingsdorf is planned to be 10 times larger than the previous one. For this, we developed an entirely new plant concept. While approximately 2,000 tons of biochar were produced over the past 10 years, the same amount will be produced within just one year in the future.
New plant concept
- Raw material: predominantly woody residues from composting – this closes the cycle and solves the problem of “screening residue disposal.”
- Production capacity: approximately 2,000 tons of biochar per year (equivalent to a CO2 sequestration of about 4,000 tons).
- A CO2-neutral construction of the entire facility is being targeted – massive timber construction + coal concrete.
- Largely self-sufficient operation through ORC process and rooftop PV system with corresponding intermediate electricity storage.
- Fully automated, meticulously planned logistics from raw material handling, carbonization, processing, and packaging to the delivery of finished products.
- Multiple uses of waste heat for contract drying of sewage sludge and subsequent drying of carbonization raw material.
Sonnenerde, together with NGE and Jumbo, has developed a completely new overall process that offers the following advantages compared to others:
- Simplified carbonization with significantly reduced technology and maintenance effort
- Optimized two-stage heat utilization: combination with Jumbo fluidized bed dryer, followed by condensation and use as low-temperature heat for raw material drying and space heating
- Recovery of nitrogen from sewage sludge drying
- Emission reduction via final-stage biofilter
With the Sonnenerde carbonization process, screening residues from composting can also be used as raw material and converted into high-quality products. Screening residues currently require costly disposal. Through carbonization, this waste is transformed into a valuable raw material. The minerals adhering to the surface from composting impart special properties through carbonization that are advantageous in further product development.
We are very proud to have established Europe’s first waste law-approved biochar production facility, which has been in continuous operation since 2012.
The Sonnenerde project is one of the most promising ideas for carbon storage because we optimize biochar, raw materials, processes, economics, and product development. We will now implement our ten years of experience with our carbonization plant for organic residues in a newly developed large-scale industrial facility.
Climate protection and CO2 certificates
With the fertile ground for a life that exists today, as well as in the near and distant future. In harmony with evolution and the Earth on which it continues. And with the resources of this Earth, which are not unlimited. We at Sonnenerde think this is wonderful and have accepted the responsibility to treat the environment with respect.
