Denmark’s leading pyrolysis players gather around a hot agenda

Roskilde University became the meeting place for future pyrolysis innovations, with almost 200 participants, leading companies and researchers who are both dedicated and highly competent when it comes to exploring and developing pyrolysis technologies in Denmark.

In collaboration with Roskilde University, Clean and Energy Cluster and with a distinguished visit from the Minister of Climate and Energy Lars Aagaard, we were lit up during an event that is extremely relevant for the green transition as part of the green tripartite, which aims for biocoal to capture and store 0.3 million tonnes of CO2 in 2030.

Tobias Pape Thomsen, associate professor at RUC IMT, welcomed and passed the floor on to Kathleen Draper from the US Biochar Initiative (USBI), who shed light on the Danish perspectives and international perceptions of biochar’s potential.

After this, the stage was passed to a number of pyrolysis companies, who presented results and status.

On stage were:

Stiesdal Skyclean – by Jesper Noes, R&D Manager
Frichs Pyrolysis – by Søren Bruun, CEO
Dall Energy – by Rasmus Glar Nielsen, Technical Lead
Aquagreen – by Henning Schmidt-Petersen, CCO
Organic Fuel Tech – by Jens Henrik Haahr, CEO

Minister: Realistic goals and definition of challenges are essential

Lars Aagaard, who primarily spoke about the political initiatives that will ensure that we reach our 2030 goals, stated the importance of not being overly optimistic, but rather realistic when it comes to what we can do (and how) , when it comes to pyrolysis and biochar. We must be realistic about how much we can produce, and we must be realistic about the timetable for the goals we set ourselves, so that we are sure to reach the goal in 2030, but also the goals we set ourselves in 2050 and going forward.

In this connection, he revealed that a number of working groups will be established, which will consist of the most competent actors, who will together map out the challenges and solutions that exist in connection with the use of pyrolysis and biochar. Big and small challenges. Because we have to work methodically, step-by-step, if the task is not to become too unmanageable. ” and we can only solve a challenge if it is properly defined ,” stated Lars Aagaard

Workshops in five tracks

The afternoon workshops, divided into five tracks. Knud Tybirk, Senior Innovation Manager and our Pyrolysis and Biochar expert in Food & Bio Cluster Denmark, was in charge of one of the five workshops, where we, among other things, delved into the role of biochar in agriculture, and discussed quality and use in soil improvement together with leading researchers and developers. Here the focus was on the importance of the quality of the biochar meeting the highest standards so that there are no negative effects on soil organisms or crop productivity when farmers receive it.

Furthermore, we were made clear the importance of the coals having a long life, so that we can ensure a permanent storage of the carbon. The session highlighted how several projects have included this very thing in their agenda.

Pyrolysis is a new central technology that is of great importance for us to achieve the climate goals.

In the cluster, we have worked methodically for several years to develop biochar, and are now beginning to see promising results in a number of ongoing projects. Including the SkyClean Scale-up project , as well as a concrete network for companies and knowledge institutions.

Pyrolysis is a central means of action described in the green tripartite. In order to achieve the goals described in the third part, large quantities of biomass must be used and technologies and concepts must be developed. Biochar plays a large part in the cluster’s work, of which we are now beginning to see the results.– Lars Visbech Sørensen, Director of Food & Bio Cluster Denmark.

Thanks to all the participants and partners for a day full of inspiration, insight and networking opportunities!

This article is written and published by Food & Bio Cluster Denmark.