UK’s largest biochar facility set to open in Wiltshire

The new site, said to be the largest of its kind in the UK, will be run by climate tech firm A Healthier Earth, a subsidiary of Pure Data Centres Group. Operations will see A Healthier Earth using pyrolysis on local organic waste, converting it into biochar by heating it to over 500°C in the absence of oxygen. As well as sequestering carbon for thousands of years, biochar can also be used to improve soil health and as an additive to construction materials. 

When it ramps up to full capacity over the coming years, the site will produce 9,000 tonnes of biochar annually, correlating to up to 17,000 tonnes of CO2 removed from the atmosphere. According to A Healthier Earth, this will enable it to sell ‘high-integrity biochar carbon credits’ to industries looking to offset their energy use, including the data centre sector of its parent company.

“Biochar has the potential to have a huge impact in tackling climate change, but it currently isn’t being sufficiently scaled to reach it,” said Alastair Collier, chief R&D officer at A Healthier Earth. 

“As a subsidiary of Pure Data Centres Group, this marks our next stage of growth to find and develop climate solutions which be scaled into profitable projects. The development of modern technology brings huge benefit to the way we live our lives, but at a cost with increasing carbon emissions. The data centre industry faces a real challenge in decarbonisation. Cutting emissions should always be the first step, but carbon removal projects like biochar are the climate solutions we need now to have real impact in minimising the effects of unavoidable emissions and ultimately protecting the planet.”

Pyrolysis equipment at the new facility at Royal Wootton Basset will be supplied by German company Pyreg. A Healthier Earth is due to be the first Pyreg customer to install the new PX6000 pyrolysis machine, with the Wiltshire facility also using its PX1500 and P500 machines. The UK firm also has options in place on a further three PX6000 machines.

“The PX6000 is designed specifically for ‘think big’ clients such as A Healthier Earth: with four times the capacity of the proven PX1500 System; it opens new horizons for rapid scaling of high-tech biochar carbon removal,” said Pyreg CEO, Jörg zu Dohna.

“At the same time, Pyreg Technology already offers integrated digital MRV capabilities, for trustworthy, reliable tracking of carbon credit generation. This integrity benefit enables Pyreg’s customers to grow their carbon removal business model.”