Circular Carbon, a carbon dioxide emissions reduction and biochar production company, has begun fulfilling its largest order to date. The use of 1,000 tons of biochar on a large agricultural farm in Brandenburg aims to improve the quality of the sandy soils in the area, ensure yields, improve the hygiene of the stables and make the use of water and fertilizers much more efficient. With this large-scale project, the ClimateTech-Holding subsidiary econnext AG is a pioneer in climate-friendly agriculture. The biochar introduced into the fields improves the soil and also serves as a large volume reduction of CO2. The current project is storing 1,500 tonnes of CO2 equivalent in the long term: this is an absolute record in the agricultural sector throughout Europe.

Circular Carbon has developed a pioneering business model that uses an energy-optimized pyrolysis plant to transform biomass waste into biochar and green process steam. In this specific case, the cocoa shell from the production of a large industrial chocolate factory nearby is used as raw material. The high-quality biochar produced can be used in various agricultural applications in line with the circular economy.

"We consider it another flagship project of one of our subsidiaries. This example is an impressive demonstration of how the use of a new business model can positively contribute to sustainable, high-yield agriculture. And not in the laboratory, but on an industrial scale. It is precisely this type of scalable and commercially viable ClimateTech innovation that we need to reverse the trend. With the right concepts, attractive new classes of products can be created and large markets developed that, at the same time, contribute significantly to the fight against climate change. climate change," states Jobst v. Hoyningen-Huene, Co-CEO of econnext AG.

The biochar produced by Circular Carbon not only offers farmers the opportunity to increase performance, but also aims to generate significant benefits for the soil and animal welfare. To do this, it is spread in the stables, where it absorbs the excrement like a kind of sponge to minimize bad odors and have a positive effect on the climate in the stables. The nutrients subsequently bound to the charcoal are introduced into the surrounding arable soil to achieve higher soil quality. In regions with particularly sandy soils, such as Brandenburg, this type of biochar utilization may be particularly attractive.

Econext AG

Founded in 2016, econnext AG is the parent company of a diversified group of ClimateTech companies focused on decarbonization and the circular economy. As a parent company, econnext AG owns majority stakes in Autarq GmbH (solar roof tiles), Circular Carbon GmbH (CDR technology for renewable heat and biochar from biomass materials), ESG Screen17 GmbH (sustainability screening for investment portfolios), FLAXTEC GmbH (recycling of solar modules, among other circular economy technologies), GRIPS Energy GmbH (supply of renewable energy worldwide) and LUMENION GmbH (renewable process heating and cooling through energy storage 24 hours a day), as well as as a minority stake in Ambibox GmbH (electric mobility and decentralized energy systems).

Circular Carbon was founded in 2018 and develops biomass energy systems for the production of valuable biochar and renewable energy. The company CDR (Carbon Dioxide Removal) helps industrial customers decarbonize their processes and fixes carbon in the long term through biochar: negative CO2 emissions. At the same time, biochar promotes the accumulation of humus in depleted agricultural soils and thus improves their fertility. Biochar is also used in sponge cities and in the construction sector and is used as animal feed. Circular Carbon therefore has a promising key technology that makes a significant contribution to a climate-neutral economy. The company has been part of the econnext Group since 2019.