XPRIZE Carbon Removal
Takachar
Mwea, Kenya
University of British Columbia
Safi Organics Private Limited
Takachar Limited
- Phase 2 Top 20 Finalist Team
- Phase 2 Top 100 Team
- Phase 2 Team
- Phase 1 Top 60 Team
- Phase 1 Student Winner
Biochar has been shown to be a promising land-based carbon removal strategy. However, most existing biochar companies have not scaled cost-effectively for two reasons. Firstly, many are large-scale/capital-intensive: while they work well co-located with large biomass point sources (e.g. mills), distributing this biochar to farmers is cost-prohibitive. Secondly, biochar technologies are often restrictive in input-output characteristics, which is incompatible with highly variable agricultural contexts: what works well for one crop may not replicate to another. We use MIT-developed technology to build a decentralized internet-of-things-enabled reactor network to rapidly and profitably scale biochar deployment without being dependent on carbon offset credits. Our low-cost, portable hardware and control systems enable village-based production of customizable biochar-based fertilizers using locally available crop residues/labor. The resultant standalone, government-certified fertilizer blend helps farmers improve their net income by 50% at the same cost of chemical fertilizers. Our approach is unique because, by overcoming logistical barriers of centralized conversion, we have demonstrated financially profitable sequestration that can scale without an offset price/subsidy. Our prototype was demonstrated on a range of feedstocks from rice husks to coconut shells, producing customizable biochar-based fertilizers on-site that specifically address individual farms’ deficiencies. In a trial involving >10,000 farmers, we demonstrated recurrent willingness to pay 40% above production costs, and an immediate 27% yield increase, thereby achieving a negative cost of carbon removal. , Takachar's Mobile Biochar Processing Machine is designed to be an affordable and efficient solution for biochar production. The mobile unit allows for on-site processing of natural waste, reducing transportation costs and emissions. Clients can apply for carbon credits, helping to cover their operational costs, while our system's live reporting features enable them to optimize their processes in real-time