Description

Nordgau Carbon is a privately owned biochar producer located in the village of Wernberg-Köblitz in South-Eastern Germany. Production commenced in April 2020 using untreated wood chips from local PEFC-certified forestry operations. The production facility lies in the heart of the forest region, the average transport distance for the feedstock to the facility is only 15km. Nordgau's high-quality biochar contains 89% carbon. Each metric ton of sequesters 2,8 tons of CO2 for centuries. Their biochar enables the responsible farmer to make an essential contribution to climate and environmental protection. Using the oxygen to carbon ratio, the stability of the carbon can be estimated. Puro.earth and the EBC use the O/C value, 0.4, as an upper threshold, which indicates a half-life of 500 years. Nordgau's laboratory analysis consistently shows a value of 0.024, which is very low, indicating a very high level of stability and, therefore long duration of sequestration. Nordgau Carbon produces biochar for mixing with manure or compost for use as a soil improvement medium. They are certified by the EBC (European Biochar Certification). The biochar is delivered to customers from the kiln without further treatment other than moisturization. Nordgau Carbon sells most of its biochar to the local farming industry but also to customers in neighbouring countries. Nordgau Carbon holds the European certificate of sustainably produced biochar (EBC). All upstream emissions from harvesting, transport and production have been accounted for in the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) which determines the net CO2 capture of each ton of biochar. The facility, LCA and supporting documentation are currently being audited by bio.inspecta against the Puro methodology.