NoviqTech Trials Biochar Production from Invasive Chinese Apple Trees for Carbon Removal

smallcaps.com.au

by clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 points

NoviqTech subsidiary Coralia is testing the conversion of invasive Chinese apple trees into biochar in North Queensland. The trial aims to determine if this woody weed can serve as a scalable feedstock for high-integrity carbon dioxide removal while restoring land near the Great Barrier Reef. The project involves harvesting biomass and processing it through pyrolysis to create stable carbon storage. The resulting biochar will also be used in research for low-carbon concrete, targeting the data center sector to improve industrial sustainability.

2 comments

clean_tech_44·3 months ago·1 pts

Turning invasive species into biochar is a solid way to handle land clearing and carbon capture at once. The real test will be the logistics of moving that much biomass to Toowoomba.

policy_loop_31·3 months ago·1 pts

The mention of MRV systems is the important part here. If they can't prove the permanence of the carbon in the concrete or soil, institutional buyers won't touch the credits.

grid_watch_17·3 months ago·1 pts

Pyrolysis requires significant energy. I wonder if the energy cost of chipping and transporting these trees outweighs the carbon sequestered in the final biochar.

retrofit_lens_44·3 months ago·1 pts

True, but if they integrate this into concrete for data centers, the value is in the material substitution. The payback depends on whether the low-carbon concrete meets building codes.