Biogenic Carbon – What Is It And Why Is It So Crucial As We Move Towards Circular Economy?

The global climate emergency, combined with the UK’s pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050,­­­­ means that organisations across the country are looking for ways to reduce their environmental footprint.

The sustainable management and use of waste has become a major concern for businesses and as we move to a circular economy, biogenic carbon has emerged as a key component in our efforts to achieve more with less.

So, what exactly is biogenic carbon and how can it help energy-intensive businesses to reduce their environmental impact?

What is biogenic carbon?

Emissions are one of the biggest drivers of climate change. But while CO2 is rightfully cited as one of the leading causes of the current crisis, it’s important to remember that not all carbon emissions have the same impact on the environment.

In fact, scientists divide carbon emissions into two key types: biogenic and non-biogenic. So, what’s the difference?

Simply put the generation, storage and recycling of carbon is part of our planet’s natural order. Some carbon has been locked in for a long time – such as that contained within oil, whilst other carbon has been generated in the very near-term, such as that derived through composting waste. This can therefore be considered long-term and short-term carbon.

Biogenic carbon – is carbon that has been generated recently and is stored within organic matter such as algae, grass and crops. Under the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), biogenic carbon, does not incur a financial penalty and is not counted as contributing to carbon emissions.

In contrast, non-biogenic carbon exists at the other end of the spectrum. It is not part of the short-term lifecycle of carbon and is instead most found in fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas which have accrued high carbon contents after thousands of years of environmental pressure. These resources are unsustainable from an environmental perspective because the emissions that are released when consumed cannot be quickly reabsorbed. It is these emissions that the world must reduce with urgency.

That’s why, as we shift towards a circular economy, governments and regulators are increasingly promoting the benefits of biogenic carbon as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels.

What to do with waste?

The UK alone generates 44 million tonnes of industrial and commercial (I&C) waste every year. Unfortunately, a large amount of this material is considered unrecyclable due to the presence of organic matter – think of sandwich wrappers which still contain a piece of the crust for example. As a result, the waste is either sent to landfill or incinerated as fuel for energy-intensive industries.

But what if, instead of contributing to our environmental concerns this waste could help to alleviate them?

At Advetec we’ve developed a system that turns unrecyclable waste into a high-quality Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF). As well as generating energy from a previously untapped resource, the high biogenic carbon content of this material makes it inherently renewable, helping to close the loop on waste and contribute to circular economy.

Good for the planet, and for your bottom line

Our technology provides a direct solution that enables businesses to boost their environmental credentials and help the UK to achieve its ambitious waste reduction targets.

Because the SRF produced by our process has a higher biogenic value than SRF derived from traditional recyclate, it provides the ideal solution to power heavy industries and high carbon emissions creators like cement kilns. That’s great news for the environment as every tonne of SRF that is used saves 1.2 tonnes of CO2e from the use of virgin fossil fuel. But it’s also good for your bottom line.

Thanks to our process the SRF we produce is high in usable biogenic carbon content. This can then be used as part of the fuel mix for industries like cement manufacturing, offering an opportunity to lower CO2 emissions and reduce their environmental impact. Because biogenic carbon doesn’t fall under existing emissions taxes and Emissions Trading Schemes (ETS), our SRF can also help companies to cut costs without an expensive additional infrastructure.

A timely solution

With businesses under increasing pressure to address their environmental impact, technology that unlocks the potential of biogenic carbon will be key. Through our waste-derived SRF Advetec is offering energy-intensive industries a genuine alternative to traditional processes. It’s contributing to the circular economy by reducing waste, protecting the environment, and improving businesses’ bottom lines. And that’s something we can all get behind.

Keen to learn more about how we can help you find a new offtake route? Contact us today.