BC Bioenergy Network supports biochar development

February 20, 2014, Vancouver, BC – The
BC Bioenergy Network announces support for the development of a biochar
industry in BC and commends Pacific Institute of Climate Solutions
("PICS") on its recent publication entitled Industrial and Market Development of Biochar in BC.

The production of biochar from
woody biomass residues presents an opportunity to displace coal combustion and
decrease greenhouse gas emissions. Other higher value end-uses of biochar
include soil amendment, media filtration, carbon sequestration, and energy
storage.

"Over the past few years, the
global biochar industry has been progressing towards commercial production
facilities," stated Michael Weedon, Executive Director of BC Bioenergy
Network. "BC has natural hosting conditions and the human resource
capabilities that present a ripe opportunity for employment and exploitation of
resources that are currently underutilized in order to maximize value and
environmental benefits."

Since 2010, BCBN has been
supporting the biochar and torrefaction industry through a variety of
conferences, workshops, national and international collaborations. BCBN engaged
a BC engineering company to evaluate 59 biochar/torrefaction technologies from
around the globe and developed a consortium of key players in BC in response to
a request for biochar proposals.

"We are pleased that this
white paper supports our view in deploying biochar technologies in BC,"
noted Michael Weedon. "We are hopeful to see commercial demonstration of a
BC-developed biochar plant at a site in BC very soon. The resulting economic,
environmental and social benefits will re-enforce the recommendations in the
white paper."