A New RMI Report Gives Biomass Storage the Credit It Deserves
Concrete with OurCarbon being poured in a project. Image Credit: OurCarbon.
A new report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a leading nonprofit that transforms global energy systems through market-driven solutions to secure a prosperous, resilient, and clean energy future for all, has been released and gives biomass the credit it deserves. The report, titled Building with Biomass: A New American Harvest, outlines a transformative opportunity to decarbonize construction by upcycling America's overlooked biomass into building materials.
Among the most innovative strategies cited is the use of biochar, particularly from sources such as sewage sludge, as a concrete aggregate to store carbon and reduce embodied emissions in housing.
Quoting from the report: "Municipal sewage sludge also poses hazards. It frequently contains per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), creating environmental and health risks when applied as fertilizer. Converting this sludge into biochar through pyrolysis, with appropriate treatment methods in place, could conceivably destroy or immobilize PFAS compounds. Incorporating this biochar into concrete may further sequester these contaminants, potentially reducing their environmental impact."
That's exactly where Bioforcetech's work comes in.
OurCarbon, Bioforcetech’s carbon-negative material, is made from biosolids and embodies the vision laid out in the report. Our proprietary process, already in use in cities across the U.S. and Europe, has been independently tested and published by the EPA to destroy PFAS to non-detectable levels. OurCarbon is already being incorporated into concrete, inks, and consumer goods through collaborations with architects, designers, and manufacturers. It's encouraging to see national attention focused on scaling this kind of solution.
RMI's report notes that "100M metric tons of CO2 e could be stored profitably in new residential buildings over the next 25 years in a low-adoption scenario," while also creating "$79B of new domestic manufacturing opportunities."
With growing interest in circular solutions, OurCarbon is proving that waste streams like sewage sludge are not just an environmental challenge; they're a climate opportunity.
The report acknowledges that "a small number of innovative bio-based product manufacturers have sprung up around the country, indicating that the opportunities identified in this report are being recognized in the market," but that for larger market uptake, the industry stakeholders need to play their part. Policymakers, lenders, developers, and architects all play a role in helping to realize biomass's potential.
We value the role of municipalities in the cities where we currently operate, and we are excited to continue demonstrating the value of OurCarbon. We recently announced that we were selected to advance in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Natural Carbon Solutions challenge, aiming to scale the understanding and use of OurCarbon within New York State.
This milestone marks a significant step toward integrating OurCarbon, Bioforcetechs's carbon-negative biochar derived from biosolids, into New York's built environment. Bioforcetech is seeking partners across New York to join in this effort.
As momentum builds around biomass solutions, we’re ready to scale, and we invite others to join us in this critical movement. If you are interested in OurCarbon, or manage biosolids and want to see how a Bioforcetech system could integrate into your processing, head to the contact page and get in touch!