[Terrapreta] Soil test and CEC

[Michael Bailes]

OK agreed.

It is interesting that the Victorian brown coal manufactures complain about
the amount of water the their coal retains.

http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/nrenmp.nsf/FID/-33E8EAA4C77E21F7CA256D02007CF8F4?OpenDocument


Mission to green Victoria's brown coal

*Victorian Brown Coal*
> >
> > Brown coal resources in the Latrobe Valley are amongst the largest in
> > the world, representing 20 per cent of the world's reserves. They have
> > provided most of the fuel for Victoria's electricity generation industry
> > since the 1920s and are the basis for much of the State's industrial
> > development.
> >
> > Brown coal is used to produce around 85% of the electricity used by
> > Victoria each year. The low-cost electricity produced using brown coal is a
> > major component of the competitive advantage that has seen Victoria
> > established as Australia's leading manufacturing state. It is, however, also
> > a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.
> >
> > To ensure supply security, continued competitiveness of Victorian
> > industry, employment growth and greenhouse abatement, Victoria's next major
> > tranche of base load needs to be generated from plants that guarantee lower
> > emissions from new generation.
> >
> > The Latrobe Valley coal seams are up to 330 m thick and are made up of 4
> > main seams, separated by thin sand and clay beds.
> >
> > The total brown coal resource in the Latrobe Valley is estimated to be
> > 394,000 million tonnes, with an estimated useable brown coal reserve of
> > 50,000 million tonnes.
> >
>
http://www.dpi.vic.gov.au/dpi/dpinenergy.nsf/LinkView/02C73866B10B9510CA2572BB000D73CAAFE5D9442E22210ACA2572BB00096717

here is enough brown coal in the La Trobe Valley to last another 500 years
> > and it's cheap. Brown coal's fuel component in the cost of producing
> > electricity is about $3 per megawatt-hour compared with black coal's $9 to
> > 15/MW-hour and natural gas's more than $20/MW-hour.
> >
> > However, in the age of global warming, brown coal's high moisture
> > content means it creates a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) - the chief culprit
> > in greenhouse gas emissions - when burnt to produce electricity.
> >
> > This is where Dr Brockway comes in. He is chief executive of the
> > Cooperative Research Centre for Clean Power From Lignite, which aims to
> > develop technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Lignite is
> > the term used internationally for brown coal.
> >
> ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/09/21/1064082865902.html?from=storyrhs

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

m
On 07/11/2007, Sean K. Barry <sean.barry at juno.com> wrote:
>
>  Hi Michael,
>
> I
> It is better than burning it to be sure, but it would be far better to
> just leave it alone and make charcoal from other recently grown biomass
> (let's say agricultural wastes for instance).
>
> I do realize that many people on this list view the formation of new Terra
> Preta soils (aka Terra Preta Nova) as mainly for the improvement of degraded
> soils.  However, I would point out that the entire climate system, not just
> the soils needs remediation.
>
> Amending soil with biochar made from grown biomass feedstock sources will
> improve both the atmosphere and the soils.
>
> Regards,
>
> SKB
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Michael Bailes <michaelangelica at gmail.com>
> *To:* Terrapreta <terrapreta at bioenergylists.org>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, November 06, 2007 6:17 PM
> *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] Soil test and CEC
>
> Victorian brown coal is one step up from peat and can be used as a soil
> amendment.
> It would be good to have another reason to use coal rather than burning
> it.
> You may be interested in this hypography thread
>
> http://forums.hypography.com/terra-preta/11638-coal-soil-amendment.html?highlight=coal
> Contributions are welcome!
>
> Adriana from BEST has sent me some PDF files on CEC and charcoal
> Which I have sent to Tom to make available in the TP "library"
>
> She also told me there is a bioenergy conference at Mudgee NSW very soon.
> If you would like me to send you details drop me an email.
>
> I note New Zealand has stopped building further coal fired power stations.
>
> They may be a little more aware of Global Warming as they are already
> getting a trickle of refugees from flooded pacific islands
> m.
>
> On 06/11/2007, Allan Balliett <aballiett at frontiernet.net > wrote:
> >
> > Jim - Can you point me to some of the Amish farmers you speak of
> > below?
>
>
> Michael the Archangel
>
> "You can fix all the world's problems in a garden. . . .
> Most people don't know that"
> FROM
> http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-content/permaculture.swf
> _______________________________________________
> Terrapreta mailing list
> Terrapreta at bioenergylists.org
> http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/biochar/
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>
>


-- 
Michael the Archangel

"You can fix all the world's problems in a garden. . . .
Most people don't know that"
FROM
http://www.blog.thesietch.org/wp-content/permaculture.swf
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