[Terrapreta] Can Terra Preta Compete?

[Michael Bailes]

I think Best Energies were hopeing for a $150-300 (AUD) a tonne for biomass
from waste.Placing the pyrolysis units near or at the source of waste
They were not sure they could get anything at the moment as there is no
market for char at present in Australia.
You might like to talk to Adriana Downie to get more up-to-date and accurate
information


What does coal sell for?
What does Victorian Brown coal sell for? (I'd like some for my garden; it's
the closest thing to peat around these days)
What is the equivalence in energy output from char Vrs. coal?
What emission problems are there with burning char?
Michael

2008/5/9 Gerry Kutney <gkutney at all-woodfibre.com>:

>  Generally, our preferred business model is derived from waste biomass.
> To be fair for terra preta, it is not necessarily that the production costs
> of producing biocarbon could not support the agricultural  market (we still
> need field trials to prove this), it is that there are other markets that
> may be willing to pay much more.  In other words, the challenge to terra
> preta may mainly come from competing markets, not the technology to produce
> the biocarbon.
>
>
>
> Michael, what is your interest in this area?
>
>
>
> Gerry
>
>
>
> *From:* Michael Bailes [mailto:michaelangelica at gmail.com]
> *Sent:* May 7, 2008 7:10 PM
> *To:* Gerry Kutney; Terra Preta
> *Subject:* Re: [Terrapreta] Can Terra Preta Compete?
>
>
>
> 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
>
> *Error! Filename not specified.*
>
> 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
>



-- 
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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