Can biochar help decarbonization of airports?

Airports usually have large green areas. Those areas could be used to capture CO2?using biochar, a charcoal-like substance. Since biochar captures CO2?in the soil for a long term, it can thus contribute to decarbonisation of airports. To investigate this, the TULIPS programme will start a biochar trial at Larnaca Airport, Cyprus.

What is biochar?

Biochar is a carbon-rich, charcoal-like product created by pyrolysis: the thermal breakdown of biomass in the absence of oxygen. It can be made from organic waste and residues, in this case poplar woodchips. Biochar can contribute in the fight against climate change. It captures CO2?in the soil for the long term. CO2?that was stored in organic material such as woodchips can be retained much longer in the form of biochar. Therefore biochar is not only CO2?neutral but even CO2?negative.

How can this help airports?

Since green areas represent a large portion of the total surface in any given airport, the biochar solution provides a high potential for replicability to other airports. Its incorporation into the soil is considered an agricultural practice that can increase sustainability and contribute to decarbonising airports.

More biochar demonstrations at other TULIPS airports

The biochar demonstration is carried out by Torino Airport SAGAT in close collaboration with the Operational Technical Management of SAGAT, experts from Polytechnic of Turin (POLITO) and agronomists from the Renewable Energy Consortium for Research and Demonstration (RE-CORD) based in Florence.

A second biochar demonstration is carried out at Larnaca Airport at Cyprus. At Amsterdam Airport Schiphol a trial is planned for 2023 as well. By doing the test at different TULIPS airports, we can assess whether biochar is widely applicable and scalable.