[Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP

[Duane Pendergast]

Sean,

 

I'm wondering if it may be necessary to rethink landfill type concepts and
move toward direct production of char from such waste products in the long
run. Perhaps we need to avoid waste management and other practices which
generate excessive methane.  I would be leery of the schemes being discussed
on the list right now with respect to simple burial of organic material for
similar reasons. I suppose even terra preta production involving a mix of
char and organic materials might produce some methane, but I'm not sure how
the micro-organisms break the organic material down to ultimate CO2. Perhaps
that is another point to ponder.

 

Of course there are already landfills in existence and perhaps in the
interim, emission reduction credits for them could be allowed.

 

To repeat, I'm suggesting that practices such as the burying of organic
waste in landfills might need to be phased out in favor of char production.
That would be a way of capturing the hydrogen component of organic material
and extracting some energy. The only credit allowed would be for the char
component. That would move us toward a carbon negative system, rather than
carbon neutral that comes from burning or producing methane subsequently
burned from waste.

. 

The char production - emission reduction credit - approach would avoid
providing an incentive to those who might perversely seek to simply continue
to harvest more emission reduction credits via the development of processes
that create methane for the sake of harvesting emission reduction credits. 

 

The establishment of emission reduction credits is a complicated business
and I doubt I've made my views perfectly clear, but I do have to go to
another task for a while.

 

Thanks,

 

Duane

 

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Sean K. Barry [mailto:sean.barry at juno.com] 
Sent: December 11, 2007 8:06 AM
To: still.thinking at computare.org; 'Jim Joyner'
Cc: 'Terrapreta preta'
Subject: Re: [Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP

 

Hi Duane,

 

If you are suggesting that CO2 equivalent emissions reductions credits be
paid for burning renewable resource based Methane-CH4, rather than letting
it be released into the atmosphere (I think you are), then there really is
nothing "perverse" about doing this.  Even though it involves the release of
CO2 to the atmosphere, it is far better (25 to 72 time better) to release
the carbon in Methane-CH4 to the atmosphere in the form of the combustion
products of CO2 and H2O, rather than merely releasing the Methane-CH4.  It
would only be fair (not "perverse"?) though, to pay those credits if the
Methane-CH4 arose from renewable sources like harvested biomass or urban
waste, etc., and not fossil fuel Methane-CH4, natural gas.  Preventing the
release of non fossil fuel based Methane-CH4 is a service towards the goal
of reducing GHG (CO2 equivalent) concentrations in the atmosphere and I
think if could be reasonably argued as a creditable carbon (CO2 equivalent)
reduction scheme.

 

Regards,

 

SKB

----- Original Message ----- 

From: Duane Pendergast <mailto:still.thinking at computare.org>  

To: 'Sean K. <mailto:sean.barry at juno.com>  Barry' ; 'Jim Joyner'
<mailto:jimstoy at dtccom.net>  

Cc: 'Terrapreta preta' <mailto:terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>  

Sent: Monday, December 10, 2007 11:38 PM

Subject: RE: [Terrapreta] a braoder theory of torrefaction and TP

 

Thanks Sean,

 

I would object and already have formally - if CO2 equivalent reduction
credits for burning the methane were issued for it. In the developing world
of CO2 emission reduction credits, that is already proposed and possibly
happening.  It is unlikely credits for charcoal in terra preta will develop
as long as such  schemes are place. It is a much more lucrative way to earn
credits thanks to the greater efficacy of methane as a greenhouse gas. Being
perverse myself, I did write an article to try and explain the nature of
some schemes. Here is the introduction and a link to it. Check section 3.3
on Landfill Gas


May 2006 - Kyoto and Beyond: Development of Sustainable Policy


Some solutions which are proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will
turn out to be ineffective. Some will even counter efforts to reduce
emissions by setting up "perverse" incentives which could actually encourage
the release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. This paper
<http://www.computare.org/Support%20documents/Fora%20Input/CCC2006/Sustainab
le%20Paper%2006_05.htm> , discussed at greater length in the Fora Input
section of this website, provides some examples and argues in favor of
solutions that can be sustained over the long term. (DRP 06/09/12)

Duane 

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