A groundbreaking biochar facility capable of removing up to 17,000 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year is set to open in Wiltshire in 2025.
Operated by climate tech firm A Healthier Earth, a subsidiary of Pure Data Centres Group, the facility will be the largest of its kind in the UK, leveraging advanced technology to combat climate change.
The site will use pyrolysis, a process that heats organic waste to over 500°C in the absence of oxygen, converting it into biochar. This method not only sequesters carbon for thousands of years but also produces biochar that can be used to improve soil health and as an additive in construction materials.
Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce 9,000 tonnes of biochar annually, correlating to 17,000 tonnes of CO2 removed from the atmosphere.
A Healthier Earth plans to sell “high-integrity biochar carbon credits” to industries aiming to offset their carbon emissions, including the data centre sector linked to 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 that potential,” said Alastair Collier, Chief R&D Officer at A Healthier Earth.
He emphasized the need for climate solutions like biochar to address the challenges of decarbonization, particularly in energy-intensive industries like data centres.
“The development of modern technology brings huge benefits to the way we live our lives, but at a cost with increasing carbon emissions,” Collier added.
“Cutting emissions should always be the first step, but carbon removal projects like biochar are the climate solutions we need now to have a real impact in minimising the effects of unavoidable emissions and ultimately protecting the planet.”
The pyrolysis equipment for the new facility in Royal Wootton Bassett will be supplied by German firm Pyreg. A Healthier Earth will be the first company to install Pyreg’s PX6000 pyrolysis machine, which offers four times the capacity of its predecessor, the PX1500. The facility will also use the PX1500 and P500 machines, with plans for additional PX6000 machines in the future.
Jörg zu Dohna, CEO of Pyreg, praised the collaboration, stating, “The PX6000 is designed specifically for ‘think big’ clients such as A Healthier Earth. It opens new horizons for the rapid scaling of high-tech biochar carbon removal.”
He also highlighted Pyreg’s integrated digital monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV) capabilities, which ensure trustworthy carbon credit tracking, a key benefit for clients expanding their carbon removal business.
As industries face increasing pressure to decarbonize, this new biochar facility represents a critical step in developing scalable solutions for carbon removal.
By providing both environmental and commercial benefits, A Healthier Earth’s project is poised to play a significant role in the fight against climate change while offering new opportunities for businesses seeking to offset their carbon footprints.
