Black Gold

…HOW BIOCHAR CAN DELIVER A LONG-TERM INCOME STREAM FOR BALANCE® PLANTING PARTNERS

The production of BIOCHAR generates “carbon credits”. We
purchase the biochar credits, convert these into balance units, and
sell them on for you. Your BIOCHAR you use yourself for soil
enhancement or sell to farmers.

THEBENEFITS OF BIOCHAR

Why make Biochar?

The production of BIOCHAR can be a significant and long-term income stream for BALANCE® Planting Partners.

It is another co-benefit of the 99-year Planting Partner contract.

  • Permanent sequestration of CO2 into the soil.
  • Enhanced soil quality for farmers and planters.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

1. Planting Partners produce BIOCHAR from their forest trimmings, generating Carbon Credits. (Verified BIOCHAR Carbon Credits can be obtained from organisations ‘TBC’)

2. BALANCE® Eco Ltd will then purchase these BIOCHAR Carbon Credits from the Planting Partner at an agreed market price.

BALANCE®’s vision is to scale BIOCHAR production through our Planting Partners to industrial carbon capture and storage level. This can be done at a fraction of the technological industrial carbon capture and storage price, by utilising a three billion-year-old ‘technology’ called ‘mother nature’.

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE. ONE BY ONE, TONNE BY TONNE.

THE BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR

WHAT IS BIOCHAR?

Click on the link for a video explanation

BIOCHAR is a form of charcoal produced through a process known as PYROLYSIS, which involves heating biomass in the absence of oxygen. This process results in the production of a stable carbon-rich material called BIOCHAR.

BIOCHAR can be made from various organic materials, including agricultural waste, forestry residues, and animal manure. The biomass is heated to temperatures between 400 to 700 degrees Celsius in a low-oxygen environment, preventing complete combustion. This ensures that the carbon content of the biomass is preserved in the resulting BIOCHAR.

BIOCHAR is typically used as granules or powder and can be applied to soil in various ways. It can be mixed with compost or other organic fertilisers and spread directly onto agricultural fields, permaculture and agroforestry locations, gardens, or used in potting mixes.

THE BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR

THE PRODUCTION
AND USE OF BIOCHAR CAN…

Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar - Summary
Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar can Sequester Carbon

…SEQUESTER CARBON

By storing carbon in the soil, BIOCHAR helps mitigate climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This contributes to the preservation of ecosystems and habitats, supporting biodiversity conservation efforts.

Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar can Improve Soil Fertility

…IMPROVE SOIL FERTILITY

BIOCHAR provides a habitat for soil micro-organisms, fungi, and beneficial bacteria, enhancing soil biodiversity. This, in turn, promotes nutrient cycling, leading to improved nutrient availability for plants and a healthier ecosystem. This, in turn, increases crop yields, providing further extra income for the planting partner.

Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar can Improve Soil Erosion

…REDUCE SOIL EROSION

Adding BIOCHAR to soil can enhance its structural stability, reducing erosion caused by wind or water and helping to protect fragile ecosystems and the organisms that depend on them.

Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar can Enhance Water Retention

…ENHANCE WATER RETENTION

BIOCHAR has excellent water retention properties, allowing it to retain moisture in the soil for longer periods. By improving water availability, BIOCHAR supports the growth of diverse plant species, which in turn provides habitats and food sources for a wide range of organisms.

Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar can Decrease Dependency on Chemical Fertilisers

…DECREASE DEPENDENCY ON CHEMICAL FERTILISERS

BIOCHAR in agriculture and horticulture can reduce the need for synthetic chemical fertilisers. This promotes a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to land management, reducing the negative impacts of chemical runoff on nearby ecosystems, thus improving the health of local people. BIOCHAR also assists in the production of healthier, nutritious food stocks.

Balance Eco - Production and Use of Biochar can Provide Additional Revenue

…AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL REVENUE

For BALANCE® planting partners producing BIOCHAR can provide additional income through the sale of the BIOCHAR credits to us, and the increased crop fertility generating extra income from selling food.

THE BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR

BIOCHAR PRODUCTION BY PYROLYSIS

for Planting Partners (small scale vs industrial)

Balance Eco - Biochar Production Cover

Pyrolysis is a process of combusting organic material in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the transformation of your forest thinnings and biomass, wood chips, and agricultural waste into charcoal.

The prepared feedstock is introduced into a ‘reactor’, a high-temperature environment. These can be cheaply made yourself from waste products such as oil drums. The ‘reactor’ is designed to prevent the entry of oxygen to ensure that the feedstock does not burn but instead undergoes thermal decomposition.

The remaining solid residue, known as BIOCHAR, is a carbon-rich material that retains the structure of around 30% of the Carbon from your original feedstock with enhanced stability.

The sustainable management of the forest through thinning practices creates a healthier environment in the forest that can also enhance Permaculture and Agroforestry practices.

The Planting Partner can put the BIOCHAR back into the forest, from which it came thus locking up CO2 from the atmosphere for thousands of years.

Balance Eco - Benefits of Biochar - Biochar Production by Pyrolysis
Balance Eco - Benefits of Biochar - Biochar Production by Pyrolysis
THE BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR

THE BENEFITS OF BIOCHAR FOR FOREST FIRE MANAGEMENT

Click to view animation

Biochar plays a crucial role in forest fire management by modifying vegetation and soil in designated fire break areas.

Biochar is porous, carbon-rich material produced by heating biomass with low oxygen. Applied to soil or forest floors, it forms a physical barrier, reducing dead vegetation accumulation that fuels wildfires.

Biochar enhances soil structure, water retention, and resistance to drying out. This slows wildfire progression by creating moistened soil less prone to ignition.

Nutrient-rich soil from biochar promotes vegetation growth, acting as a natural fire barrier. Biochar’s high heat capacity absorbs and dissipates heat strategically in fire break zones, potentially lessening fire intensity and aiding firefighter safety.

Biochar-amended soil resists erosion, maintaining fire break integrity post-wildfire. Effective fire breaks combine biochar with controlled burns, vegetation management, and expert consultation for safety and success.

WHERE CAN BIOCHAR BE PRODUCED

…AND SHOW IS IT USED?

BIOCHAR production can occur in forested areas with abundant forestry residues, such as branches, bark, or sawdust. By converting these residues into BIOCHAR, foresters can reduce waste and generate additional revenue streams.

BIOCHAR production can also occur on a smaller scale through community-led projects or do-it-yourself initiatives, recycling, oil drums. These efforts involve individuals or groups who produce BIOCHAR using homemade or commercially available pyrolysis equipment.

Farmers and agricultural producers often create BIOCHAR on-site using agrarian waste such as crop residues, pruning residues, or manure. This allows them to recycle organic materials and utilise the resulting BIOCHAR as a soil amendment.

HOW TO USE BIOCHAR

CHARGE THE BIOCHAR:

Charging means activating the BIOCHAR with nutrients such as compost, manure, fish waste, and urine. BIOCHAR naturally creates a home for the essential healthy soil fungal mesh. If it is not activated, the fungal biota will take longer to move in.

APPLY BIOCHAR:

BIOCHAR should be applied in every planting hole or over the whole forest or field.

FOREST OF AVON TRUST
For over 30 years, the Forest of Avon Trust has worked tirelessly to connect people with trees across the West of England. This collaborative initiative works with partners and landowners to plant trees, improve woodland management, and engage the community with their natural heritage..
FOREST OF AVON TRUST
For over 30 years, the Forest of Avon Trust has worked tirelessly to connect people with trees across the West of England. This collaborative initiative works with partners and landowners to plant trees, improve woodland management, and engage the community with their natural heritage..
FOREST OF MERCIA
The Forest of Mercia is a testament to the power of tree planting. This dedicated Community Interest Company has revitalised Staffordshire and the West Midlands for decades, creating vibrant ecosystems that benefit the environment and the local community..
FOREST OF MERCIA
The Forest of Mercia is a testament to the power of tree planting. This dedicated Community Interest Company has revitalised Staffordshire and the West Midlands for decades, creating vibrant ecosystems that benefit the environment and the local community..
HUMBER FOREST (HEYWOODS)
The Humber Forest (HEYwoods) is a testament to the transformative power of trees. It celebrates the rich natural history of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, and North Lincolnshire, weaving a tapestry of woodlands, hedgerows, and green spaces to enhance the landscape and foster a vibrant ecosystem..
HUMBER FOREST (HEYWOODS)
The Forest of Mercia is a testament to the power of tree planting. This dedicated Community Interest Company has revitalised Staffordshire and the West Midlands for decades, creating vibrant ecosystems that benefit the environment and the local community..
PLYMOUTH AND SOUTH DEVON
The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (P&SD) is a vibrant new initiative, a partnership between Plymouth City Council, South Hams District Council, West Devon Borough Council, the National Trust, and the Woodland Trust. This ambitious project will stretch from the heart of Plymouth to the edge of Dartmoor, creating a thriving mosaic of habitats and enhancing the connection between the city and its beautiful surroundings.
PLYMOUTH AND SOUTH DEVON
The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (P&SD) is a vibrant new initiative, a partnership between Plymouth City Council, South Hams District Council, West Devon Borough Council, the National Trust, and the Woodland Trust. This ambitious project will stretch from the heart of Plymouth to the edge of Dartmoor, creating a thriving mosaic of habitats and enhancing the connection between the city and its beautiful surroundings.
THE WHITE ROSE FOREST
The White Rose Forest isn’t just a collection of trees – it’s a growing network of woodlands transforming the landscape of North and West Yorkshire. This community-driven initiative strategically plants millions of trees in both urban and rural areas, creating a vibrant, resilient, and diverse natural environment.
THE WHITE ROSE FOREST
The White Rose Forest isn’t just a collection of trees – it’s a growing network of woodlands transforming the landscape of North and West Yorkshire. This community-driven initiative strategically plants millions of trees in both urban and rural areas, creating a vibrant, resilient, and diverse natural environment.
FOREST OF MARSTON VALE
The Forest of Marston Vale is an extraordinary testament to the power of vision and collaboration. For over 20 years, this initiative has transformed 61 square miles of Bedfordshire into a vibrant mosaic of woodlands and green spaces, offering a haven for nature and people alike.
FOREST OF MARSTON VALE
The Forest of Marston Vale is an extraordinary testament to the power of vision and collaboration. For over 20 years, this initiative has transformed 61 square miles of Bedfordshire into a vibrant mosaic of woodlands and green spaces, offering a haven for nature and people alike.
CITY OF TREES
City of Trees is a force of nature, transforming Greater Manchester into a greener, healthier, and more vibrant place to live. This innovative movement goes beyond just planting trees – it’s about restoring woodlands, creating urban green spaces, and forging a deep connection between the community and its natural environment.
CITY OF TREES
City of Trees is a force of nature, transforming Greater Manchester into a greener, healthier, and more vibrant place to live. This innovative movement goes beyond just planting trees – it’s about restoring woodlands, creating urban green spaces, and forging a deep connection between the community and its natural environment.
GREENWOOD COMMUNITY FOREST
Nestled in the heart of historic Nottingham Forest, the Greenwood Community Forest is a testament to Nottinghamshire’s deep connection with nature. Once a vast temperate rainforest, Britain’s woodlands hold a special place in our history. The Greenwood initiative seeks to revitalise this legacy, creating vibrant ecosystems, vital wildlife corridors, and spaces where people can reconnect with their natural heritaget.
GREENWOOD COMMUNITY FOREST
Nestled in the heart of historic Nottingham Forest, the Greenwood Community Forest is a testament to Nottinghamshire’s deep connection with nature. Once a vast temperate rainforest, Britain’s woodlands hold a special place in our history. The Greenwood initiative seeks to revitalise this legacy, creating vibrant ecosystems, vital wildlife corridors, and spaces where people can reconnect with their natural heritaget.
GREAT WESTERN COMMUNITY FOREST
The Great Western Community Forest (GWCF) is a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together local people and organisations to create a better environment. With the vibrant town of Swindon at its heart, this ambitious project stretches from the White Chalk Downs to Salisbury Plain and all the way to the River Thames, covering an impressive 39,000 hectares.
GREAT WESTERN COMMUNITY FOREST
The Great Western Community Forest (GWCF) is a testament to the power of collaboration, bringing together local people and organisations to create a better environment. With the vibrant town of Swindon at its heart, this ambitious project stretches from the White Chalk Downs to Salisbury Plain and all the way to the River Thames, covering an impressive 39,000 hectares.