A socio technical analysis of the Danish biochar system's potential for scaling and diffusion
Authors
Heinersdorff, Mark Oliver ; Garcia Cusi, Marti
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2023
Pages
109
Abstract
This thesis examines how biochar, as a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) option, can scale and diffuse in Denmark against the backdrop of the EU Green Deal and Denmark’s 2050 climate neutrality goal. Using a socio-technical framework, it analyzes interactions between technology development (including pyrolysis systems and the SkyClean case), climate policy and regulation (ETS, ESR, LULUCF, the Carbon Farming initiative, and the proposed EU carbon removal certification), and social acceptance and user practices in agriculture. The research follows an abductive design and combines literature and policy review, gray literature, and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders (producers, farmers, experts, and policymakers), complemented by survey insights from the Interreg North Sea Carbon Farming program on farmer motivations. The analysis maps supply- and demand-side incentives, agricultural costs and benefits, and key considerations such as additionality, permanence, and risks of greenwashing in voluntary carbon markets. In Denmark, biochar sits on a development track toward 2030, yet policy sources indicate uncertainty about rapid scale-up; coherent incentives, robust certification, and user-oriented applications are therefore highlighted as important for diffusion. The provided excerpt does not report final findings, but the thesis aims to identify core barriers and enablers for scaling and diffusion of biochar in the Danish context.
Denne afhandling undersøger, med udgangspunkt i EU’s Green Deal og Danmarks mål om klimaneutralitet i 2050, hvordan biochar som kulstoffjernelsesmetode kan skaleres og udbredes i Danmark. Med en socio-teknisk ramme analyseres samspillet mellem teknologiudvikling (herunder pyrolyseanlæg og case-eksemplet SkyClean), klimapolitik og regulering (ETS, ESR, LULUCF, Carbon Farming-initiativet og forslag til EU-certificering af kulstoffjernelser) samt social accept og brugerpraksisser i landbruget. Projektet følger en abduktiv tilgang og kombinerer litteratur- og policydokumentanalyse, grålitteratur og kvalitative interviews med centrale aktører (producenter, landmænd, eksperter og beslutningstagere), suppleret af surveyindsigter fra Interreg North Sea Carbon Farming om landmænds motivationer. Analysen kortlægger forsynings- og efterspørgselsincitamenter, omkostninger og gevinster i landbruget samt nøglehensyn som additionalitet, permanenthed og risiko for greenwashing i frivillige kulstofmarkeder. I den danske kontekst er biochar placeret på udviklingssporet frem mod 2030, men politiske kilder peger på usikkerhed om hurtig opskalering; derfor fremhæves behovet for sammenhængende incitamenter, robust certificering og brugerrettede anvendelser for at fremme diffusion. Den tilgængelige uddragstekst indeholder ikke endelige resultater, men afhandlingen har til formål at identificere centrale barrierer og drivkræfter for skalering og udbredelse af biochar i Danmark.
[This apstract has been generated with the help of AI directly from the project full text]
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