About
Biochar is a useful and versatile charcoal-like substance that occurs as a residue of pyrolysis thermochemical conversion. Pyrolysis is process of converting biomass, such as plant matter, in a low-oxygen environment.
Why does it matter?
Achieving sustainable living standards for all demands innovative approaches to waste management, especially those that offer novel means to recovering or replacing nutrients lost due to industry and agriculture.
Industries such as forestry and agriculture represent some of the world’s largest sources of residue materials. They are particularly rich sources of low-value biomass and feedstock. Many of these biodegradable materials often end up unused, producing potent greenhouse gases (GHGs) such as methane, carbon dioxide, and nitrous oxide as they decay.
Biochar has a key role to play in reducing these emissions, but challenges surrounding affordability and its potential for mass-market adoption remain. Our research at EBRI aims to help extract maximum commercial value while minimising the environmental impact of these waste by-products.
What can it do?
While primarily known for its usefulness as an environmentally-friendly soil additive, biochar has a range of remarkable uses, including:
Improving soil health and biodiversity
Mitigating global warming via carbon capture
Absorbing harmful industrial by-products
Increasing agricultural productivity
Water filtration
Inclusion in construction materials
Biochar at EBRI
EBRI is actively working with partners on the use of biochar to decarbonise urban and rural environments and has developed commercial and environmental carbon reduction technology. See our latest news and developments here:
Biochar CleanTech Accelerator
Aston University, in partnership with local industries, has launched the Biochar CleanTech Accelerator, a project centered around innovative pyrolysis technology that transforms organic material into commercially viable bioproducts. These materials include sawdust, fallen trees, chicken litter, and agricultural straw, which are converted into biochar, gas, and liquids.
The Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI) and the Centre for the Circular Economy and Advanced Sustainability (CEAS) are actively seeking partners to help bring these bioproducts (which include low carbon fuel, soil conditioners, and biochar for carbon capture, water treatment and building materials), to market.
Aston University has been awarded funding for this Biochar CleanTech Accelerator project as part of the West Midlands Innovation Accelerator to bolster the region’s innovation and R&D capability and capacity to spark commercial growth and investment.
Led by Innovate UK on behalf of UK Research and Innovation, the pilot Innovation Accelerators programme invested £100m in 26 transformative R&D projects between 2022-25 to accelerate the growth of three high-potential innovation ecosystems – Glasgow City Region, Greater Manchester and West Midlands. The programme was boosted by an additional £30m of public funding for 2025/26 spread equally across the regions. Innovation Accelerators is piloting a new model of R&D decision making that empowers local partnerships to harness innovation to drive regional economic growth, attract private investment, and develop future technologies.
To learn more about this initiative and the potential benefits of partnership, visit www.bioenergy.for.business.org or contact biochar@aston.ac.uk.
Biochar and Pyrolysis Products Guide
EBRI has launched a new edition of its Producers and Suppliers guide. The purpose of this publication is to raise awareness of the many benefits of biochar and other pyrolysis-related products, and to promote UK businesses involved with the production and supply.
Download a copy to gain an insight into:
- Biochar and how it is produced
- Benefits and applications – environmental and commercial
- Other pyrolysis products and their range of uses
- Business profiles of producers and suppliers
- Case studies
- Opportunities with EBRI
Inside this 128-page guide you can find information regarding:
Biochar – a sustainable form of charcoal
- Biochar producers
- Biochar suppliers
- Retailers of other biochar-based products
Other pyrolysis-related products
Discover producers and suppliers of:
- Bio-oil / pyrolysis oil
- Pyrolysis gas / fuel gas
- Wood vinegar / pyrolysis vinegar / aqueous phase liquid
Technology
Developers and suppliers of:
- Biochar stoves
- Biochar kilns
- Biochar retorts
- Bespoke technology
Other Services
- Community Processing Parks
- Consultancy
- Feedstock Drying
- Integrated Sustainability Management
- Research trials
- Soil injector
- Speakers and presentations
- Testing of feedstock
- Workshops and training
Download the full guide here
Urban Biochar & Sustainable Materials Demonstrator
EBRI has previously been granted Local Growth Funding from the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) to deliver an Urban Biochar and Sustainable Materials Demonstrator project - see short film below for more details. The demonstrator is devised to thermally convert wood cuttings from around Birmingham and Solihull into biochar, with the project aiming to benefit the local region both environmentally and economically. Read More
Contact Us
We welcome collaboration opportunities with academia, government bodies and industry from around the world.
To contact us, email biochar@aston.ac.uk or call us on 0121 204 3383.
Energy & Bioproducts Research Institute (EBRI)
Aston University
Aston Triangle
Birmingham
B4 7ET
