Why Biochar?

Biochar is recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as one of the best methods for removing significant amounts of CO₂ from the atmosphere by 2050. Recent research (Sanei et al. & Azzi et al.) on Biochar Carbon Removal indicates that industrially produced, high-quality biochar (“inertinite biochar”) is permanent on geological timescales and we now have the tools (“reflectance rate”) to calculate the exact percentage of any given biochar that is permanent. Based on analytical testing of representative Myno biochar samples, the research indicates Myno’s biochar has a permanence factor as high as 0.89, meaning that 89% of the biochar’s organic carbon mass will be “inertinite” and sequestered for at least 1,000 years.

To ensure biochar carbon removal permanence, Myno adheres to strict Measurement, Reporting, and Verification Protocols (MRV) for biochar end-use deployment to make certain the biochar is not combusted. Eligible biochar end uses to ensure biochar permanence include use as a regenerative soil amendment, in stormwater infrastructure to filter pollution, and in the built environment as a carbon-negative material.

Myno Carbon Removal Facilities (CRFs) convert the carbon in wood waste, drawn down by trees from the atmosphere via photosynthesis, into biochar. By converting biomass waste, a labile form of biogenic carbon that typically decomposes back to atmospheric CO₂ into biochar, a stable form of carbon, the process removes CO₂ from the atmosphere. The biochar will be used to help restore aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, remove and filter toxic pollution, lessen the need for chemical fertilizers in agriculture, and reduce the use of fossil-derived products in industry supply chains.

Myno CRFs are inherently carbon-negative facilities based on a total lifecycle analysis. The CRF revenue derives from its low life cycle analysis (LCA) score including biochar Carbon Removal Credits, biochar sales to decarbonize supply chains, and production of renewable baseload electricity. Myno CRFs are guided by a rigorous Carbon Life Cycle Analysis and by a biochar carbon removal credit methodology to ensure accurate measurement, reporting, and verification of the biochar carbon removal.

Myno CRFs will use only sustainably sourced waste biomass to produce biochar, such as slash piles (i.e., leftover limbs and branches), residuals from forest management practices, and sawmill residuals that would otherwise have no market use.

Myno CRFs are guided by rigorous Lifecycle Carbon Assessment (LCA) and a biochar carbon removal credit methodology to ensure accurate measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV) of sustainable feedstock sourcing, verified biochar application, and amount of carbon removed through the biochar production. Myno’s LCA is reviewed by third party verification organizations and will continue to meet the highest methodological standards developed by VERRA, Climate Action Reserve, Puro.earth, and International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA). Once the CRF is in full production, a neutral third-party verification body will prepare bi-annual MRV reports reflecting the CRF LCA, biochar carbon removal verification, and sustainable feedstock procurement data.

Myno considers the LCA to be the project’s true scorecard. Effectiveness at removing carbon is an ongoing process rather than a static measure of performance. As a company, Myno has made its technical and business decisions with a high fidelity to the LCA, under the conviction that economic success will accrue to companies that decarbonize at scale.

Myno’s CRF strategy supports ascendant pathways to mitigate the climate crisis at scale. CRFs turn sustainably sourced waste biomass into biochar and renewable electricity. They convert waste to value while reducing total greenhouse gas emissions, providing many climate, environmental, and economic benefits to the region. Myno is working closely with partners to ensure our project provides community and environmental co-benefits alongside our mission of removing carbon to mitigate the climate crisis.

The spectrum of co-benefits from a CRF include:

• Expanding rural economic development through the creation of competitive wage full-time jobs at the facility and in the surrounding communities.
• Increasing access to biochar products to catalyze environmental remediation and regenerative agriculture, reducing the use of fossil-derived products and increasing soil organic carbon.
• Improving regional forest health and lessening wildfire risk by utilizing in-woods slash and reducing the landfilling of mill residual waste streams.
• Permanently removing carbon emissions through biochar production to mitigate the impacts of the climate crisis.
• Generating affordable, renewable baseload electricity, decreasing reliance on fossil-derived power.

Myno is working with local, regional, and national stakeholders to create the best possible environmental, social, and economic project outcomes. The CRF offers rural employment opportunities, permanently removes carbon, supports forest health, and catalyzes regenerative agriculture. Over the past year, we have received support from a diverse array of regional stakeholders. The following organizations, agencies, and policymakers have supported our various grant proposals and projects this past year through written letters of support. We have had many other supportive conversations with partners that are not listed without the consent of a written letter of support.

Regional tribal nations, including Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Colville Tribes, Kalispel Tribe, Spokane Tribe, and the Yakama Nation. We have had productive conversations with these Tribal Nations regarding feedstock procurement and deployment of, and research on, biochar as an agricultural soil amendment.

Regional economic development agencies, including the Clallam County Economic Development Council, Natural Resources Innovation Center, Port of Port Angeles, Tri- County Economic Development Council, Colville Together Main Street Program, Colville Chamber of Commerce, and West Plains Chamber of Commerce.

Washington State agencies, including the Dept. of Natural Resources, Dept. of Commerce, and Dept. of Agriculture.

Environmental non-profits, including American Farmland Trust, Kulshan Carbon Trust, and Clean and Prosperous WA.

State / Federal Legislators and Regional Governments, including US Member of Congress Rep. Schrier, Sen. Cantwell, Sen. Murray, Rep. Kilmer; and Washington State legislators Sen. Van De Wege, Rep. Tharinger, Rep. Chapman, Rep. Fitzgibbon, the City of Port Angeles.

Regional state conservation districts, including Benton, Franklin, and Stevens County Conservation Districts, and the Colville Reservation Conservation District.

Washington’s commodity crop commissions and grower associations, including the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, Potato Commission, Dairy Federation, Wine Growers Association, Wine Commission, Dairy Farmers, and Hop Growers of America.

Regional agricultural producers, including Gebbers Farms, Carpenter Ranches, Perrault Farms, Yakama Nation Farms, Colville Reservation Conservation District, and Kalispel Tribes.

Regional research institutions: Myno has worked closely with Washington State University (WSU), Oregon State University, and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to apply for grant funding to assess the effects of biochar as a soil amendment in key cropping systems in the PNW. We plan to continue working with research institutions, particularly in developing value-added biochar products.

Washington State Government and Political Support: Myno and DNR formalized a letter of intent to procure in-woods biomass residuals from its regional timber lands for biochar production and incentivizing DNR farming leaseholders to amend soil with biochar. Furthermore, in 2022 Myno engaged with Washington State legislators to help pass WA State Senate Bill 5961, which requires biochar to be considered for use in all state-wide public works projects. In 2023, the Washington State legislature passed additional funding to support agricultural carbon sequestration through biochar application and streamlined permitting for clean energy facilities including biochar production facilities. Myno also received funding through Commerce Green Jobs and Infrastructure grant program in the 2024 State Captial budget to support our CRF development. Myno is excited to see continued bi-partisan support for biochar and our CRF model.

Myno CRFs will generate highly competitive jobs at our facility, underscoring our belief that a just transition to a clean energy future hinges on a skilled and empowered workforce. Additionally, CRFs will benefit the regional economy through the increase in feedstock transportation, biochar transportation, and logistics sector jobs. We are committed to attracting, developing, and retaining the best skilled and collaborative team for Myno, with highly competitive compensation and benefits.

We are coordinating with the regional Economic Development Councils, alongside city, county, state, and federal policymakers who support our facility’s rural economic development benefits. We believe that the transition to a climate-resilient future depends on projects that can mitigate the climate crisis and generate co- benefits profitably. Myno is committed to developing projects that bring these important co-benefits for the climate, the economy, and community.

Myno is focused on building future biochar Carbon Removal Facilities (CRFs) in locations with access to 1) extensive timber or agricultural biomass waste 2) applications for waste heat, including industrial process heat or electricity production when existing grid interconnects are available; and 3) proximity to biochar markets and/or transportation to key markets. Myno is actively working to build 6 more CRFs across the US by 2030.

Beyond carbon removal, biochar can be used as a climate-smart additive in many products and sectors to reduce supply chain GHG emissions. The underlying thesis of our biochar go-to-market strategy is the businesses that take bold steps to remove fossil fuels from their supply chains and reduce their carbon footprints today are the ones that will win tomorrow. Myno makes decarbonization possible by producing high-performance, carbon materials that have the potential to substitute and reduce carbon-intensive inputs across multiple industries. By substituting high carbon intensity (CI) product inputs with low CI inputs such as biochar, companies can significantly reduce their Scope 3 emissions.

Biochar can be used as a climate-smart additive in many industries to support decarbonization efforts. Biochar can be beneficially employed as a regenerative agricultural amendment, stormwater pollution filtration media, amended into compost, replacement for carbon-intensive potting media components, a low-carbon additive in concrete and asphalt, and substitute for petroleum-based carbon black products.

As an agricultural soil amendment, biochar increases yields, reduces nitrogen fertilizer requirements and runoff, reduces soil nitrous oxide emissions, and increases the rate of accumulation of soil carbon. Downstream of the CRF, Myno estimates that when used in agriculture applications, biochar can generate Scope 3 emissions reductions in the form of nitrous oxide emissions reductions, increased soil organic activity (i.e., negative priming), and reduction of high carbon-intensity inputs, such as the synthetic fertilizers, peat, and perlite prevalent in today’s supply chains. These emissions are calculated based on the rigorous academic research around
biochar‘s impact on soil health and GHG reductions.

Carbon removal credits differ from traditional carbon offsets as they give the purchaser credit for existing CO₂ emissions that are permanently withdrawn from the atmosphere, rather than for new emissions that are avoided. While companies work to reduce their operational and supply-chain carbon footprints, carbon removal credits offer a way to make progress toward net zero that is generally seen as more scientifically credible — albeit much more expensive — than offsets. Today the market for carbon removal is tiny. Last year, 4,000 times more tons of carbon offsets were sold than carbon removals. Biochar carbon removal credits have high measurability, high permanence threshold, high scalability, and reduced price compared to other leading carbon removal technologies and credits.

Unlike biomass pellet and traditional biomass energy plants which are designed to convert 100% of the carbon in biomass into energy or pellets, the primary objective of Myno’s Carbon Removal Facilities (CRFs) is to remove and sequester carbon in the form of biochar. Waste heat is a byproduct of our process because ~40% of the carbon contained in the feedstock can be converted into biochar using Myno’s pyrolysis system, while the remainder is converted into heat to self sustain the facility. Furthermore, biomass pellet production facilities and traditional biomass energy plants have significantly higher overall emissions

Unlike biomass pellet and traditional biomass energy plants which are designed to convert 100% of the carbon in biomass into energy or pellets, the primary objective of Myno’s Carbon Removal Facilities (CRFs) is to remove and sequester carbon in the form of biochar. Waste heat is a byproduct of our process because ~40% of the carbon contained in the feedstock can be converted into biochar using Myno’s pyrolysis system, while the remainder is converted into heat to self-sustain the facility. Furthermore, biomass pellet production facilities and traditional biomass energy plants have significantly higher overall emissions.

Currently, biochar production remains small scale across the US due to low capital investment resulting in small-scale production, high priced and inconsistent biochar, and limited market and product development. Myno Carbon Removal Facilities (CRFs) pioneer a new business model for biochar production that improves profitability and scalability of biochar production. Myno CRFs are innovative through the following attributes:

1. Biochar Production Technological Innovation: Myno has integrated existing technologies to create an innovative and unique biochar production system that captures and sequesters carbon from biomass waste at a scale not yet achieved globally.
2. Profitable Carbon Removal At-Scale: Myno CRFs have three primary revenue streams that differentiate our facilities: production of consistent volumes of high-pressure steam for renewable electricity or industrial heat; production of large quantities of consistent, premium biochar; and creation of high-quality durable carbon removal credits.
3. Advanced Biochar Product Development: Myno is focused on developing high quality biochar products tailored for a range of industries.

A unique attribute of Myno’s technology is the tandem Thermal Oxidizers (TO) that combust the gasifier flue gas stream at extremely high temperatures, more than 2,000 degrees F, effectively eliminating Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPS) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Precursor constituents such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) remaining in the flue gas stream will be reduced using Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) technologies currently subject to the Washington BACT selection process. The final cleaning of the gas stream to remove particulate matter will occur in an Electrostatic Precipitator (ESP), a well proven and highly effective “dry” scrubber. Continuous Emission Monitors (CEMS) will be prescribed under BACT for installation on the single CRF stack downstream from the ESP. Emission reduction performance of all emissions listed in the facility Air Permit will be evidenced by CEMS data.

Myno will also use a sophisticated digital tracking system to provide chain of custody for each load of feedstock delivered. The CRF Feedstock Sourcing Plan will adhere to the following criteria, which was established by CarbonDirect as the core principles of sustainable biomass feedstock sourcing:

1. Biomass must come from sources with operational integrity and oversight through strong governance, standards, and supply chain transparency.
2. Biomass must come from sources for which operations minimize negative impacts on Indigenous Peoples, workers, and local communities.
3. Biomass must come from sources where biomass can be produced without threatening protected areas or reducing regional carbon stocks.
4. Biomass must come from sources that do not distort markets For Agribusiness or forestry products.
5. Avoids utilization of biomass with higher value uses (i.e., cascading use).

Biochar is a stable, highly porous material created by heating sustainably sourced biomass in low oxygen conditions, a process known as pyrolysis. Its highly porous structure (with surface area ranging from ~300 to 550 m²/g) enables it to effectively adsorb a wide range of environmental contaminants, including heavy metals (such as lead, copper, and mercury), hydrocarbons, emerging pollutants like PFAS, and other persistent organic pollutants.

Recognized by the U.S. EPA as a Green Remediation Best Management Practice (BMP) and aligned with ASTM International’s 2016 Standard Guide for Greener Cleanups, biochar minimizes environmental impacts while reducing cleanup costs. When applied to soil, biochar enhances fertility, provides erosion control, neutralizes soil pH, and reduces water requirements, making it a powerful tool for phytoremediation, revegetation, and soil restoration. Biochar is especially effective in applications such as mining site reclamation, soil remediation, and stormwater management.

Moreover, the production of biochar permanently removes carbon from the carbon cycle, making it a sustainable remediation tool that mitigates the climate crisis. Its ability to remove contaminants, enhance soil, and sequester carbon makes biochar an effective and cost-efficient solution for environmental remediation.

Each year, around 10 billion tons of mine tailings are discharged worldwide, and existing management methods often fail to effectively protect the environment and human health. Biochar provides a sustainable solution to these challenges. Biochar’s highly porous structure allows it to effectively adsorb a wide range of contaminants including heavy metals like lead, copper, and mercury. Contaminant adsorption to biochar reduces their bioavailability and thus limits human exposure.

When applied to soil, biochar both removes contaminants and improves overall soil fertility, erosion control, neutralizes soil PH, and decreases watering requirements making it a powerful tool in phytoremediation, revegetation, and soil restoration. Biochar can help mine sites recover more quickly and effectively while strengthening the social license to operate by improving environmental stewardship.

Biochar is more cost-effective than many traditional remediation methods, such as soil washing and activated carbon, reducing overall remediation costs. As a green remediation practice recognized by the EPA, biochar provides an environmentally friendly and cost-efficient solution for mine site reclamation. Furthermore, biochar’s role in permanently sequestering carbon makes it a valuable tool for lowering the carbon intensity and overall environmental footprint of mining operations. Biochar represents a versatile, sustainable, and economically viable approach to mine site reclamation and remediation.

Yes! Samples of all our biochar products are available upon request. See our Products here.

Send sample inquiries to biochar@mynocarbon.com