[Terrapreta] Can Terra Preta Compete?

[Michael Bailes]

Very good point.
What if charcoal was derived from waste and the energy harvested as in
modern pyrolysis technology?
michael

2008/5/8 Gerry Kutney <gkutney at all-woodfibre.com>:

>  BIOCARBON:  Can Terra Preta Compete?
>
> Those of us in the biocarbon industry (i.e., those that have manufacturing
> facilities for biocarbon and are marketing the material) watch with great
> interest the countless articles on terra preta.  We are concerned, though,
> about the misunderstanding of the value of biocarbon.  The biocarbon,
> itself, is discussed as almost a waste product that is worth a few dollars
> per ton.  Biocarbon has inherent value as a renewable energy pellet, with an
> energy content of 30 GJ/te, which is similar to coal and almost double that
> of a wood pellet.  Recently, a Korean steel manufacturer was reported to be
> paying over $300 per tonne for coking coal.  If coal can be valued so
> highly, how much higher in price should be a renewable (GHG neutral)
> replacement for coal, i.e. biocarbon?  An even higher valued market opens
> when the biocarbon is activated.  An important environmental role for
> activated biocarbon is to remove mercury contamination from flew gas in
> coal-fired power plants.  While costs increase to activate the material,
> selling prices are often in excess of $1,000 per tonne.
>
>
>
> This wonder of nature appears to have amazing impact on plant growth and
> has a significant carbon negative footprint.  However, studies in someone's
> backyard or flower garden, do not supply the rigour that government agencies
> demand to prove the agricultural benefits of new products.  Extensive field
> trials are required to prove and quantify the benefits of TP.  The issue is
> especially important for terra preta since it does not fit the standard mold
> of an agricultural product.  It is not a fertilizer or nutrient, yet it
> stimulates plant growth.  This agricultural catalyst will likely be thus put
> under even closer regulatory scrutiny; more reason to get proper field
> trials under way.
>
>
>
> We, at Alterna Energy (www.alternaenergy.ca), are investigating carrying
> out such field trials on terra preta in Australia, and we will shortly be
> promoting such trials in Canada.  These trials will only *begin* to
> quantify the benefits of terra preta.  For the terra preta genii to be
> released from its carbon bottle, many soils in varying climatic conditions
> must be tested.  In the meantime, Alterna Energy continues to market its
> biocarbon as carbon-neutral, bioenergy pellets.  We eagerly await the
> opportunity to build plants around the world to supply a future agricultural
> market.
>
>
>
> In the end, the success of terra preta will depend on demonstrated
> agricultural and environmental benefits, and competing market demand.
> Biocarbon is an amazing substance; so much so that various industries will
> be vying for its almost magical abilities.  We will have to see if terra
> preta can compete?  In other words, will the field trials demonstrate to the
> agricultural community and related government agencies that terra preta is
> worth, at least, what competing industries are willing to pay for it.  Of
> course, we all hope that it can.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Gerry Kutney
>
> Chief Operating Officer
>
> 1-250-649-2459
>
>
>
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>



-- 
Michael the Archangel
"Politicians will never solve The Problem;
because they don't realise they are The Problem.".
-Robert ( Bob ) Parsons 1995
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