Kiland Ltd (ASX:KIL) is in the final stages of inking a deal with Biocare Projects Pty Ltd to convert damaged timber within Kiland’s Kangaroo Island plantations into biochar, a form of charcoal capable of storing carbon for hundreds of years and increasing the fertility of the surrounding land.
The company intends to process 4.5 million tonnes of damaged biomass (timber) into about 900,000 tonnes of biochar, potentially producing up to 1.8 million Carbon Removal Certificates – both a monetary and future-proofing initiative.
Biochar is formed by the process of pyrolysis, a method of burning biomass in a low oxygen environment which can produce bio-oil, syngas and biochar depending on the temperatures and methodology used.
Biomass processing strategy
Biocare Projects is Kiland’s preferred partner for the biochar conversion process – currently in the late stages of contract negotiation.
Biocare’s principals have “significant” experience in carbon project certification under multiple standards.
Kiland’s reversion strategy involves the harvesting and stacking of damaged biomass, followed by the pyrolysis of fire-damaged trees via an ‘in-field’ production process to produce biochar.
The company’s project partners have completed trials of this ‘in-field’ process and Kiland intends to undertake a larger scale trial in the coming six months to assess biochar yields.
This ‘in-field’ process is expected to be capable of converting plantation biomass impacted by fire (with no measurable value) into a product which may have material value. There is no guarantee the trial process will be successful.
Should the trials go to plan, Kiland expects to produce approximately 900,000 tonnes of biochar over a period of 6-10 years.