Technology–Economy–Policy: Biochar in the Low-Carbon Energy Transition—A Review

Biochar can be regarded as a high-energy type of solid fuel produced via pyrolysis, which is the thermal modification of biomass of plant or animal origins. The biggest advantage of biomass relative to classic fossil fuels is the significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in the combustion process. Biochar is also considered a natural soil additive for improving soil parameters, increasing crop yields, remediating pollutants, and reducing emissions of methane, among other things. Over the past few years, the range of biochar applications has expanded significantly, as reflected in the number of scientific articles on the topic. Pyrolysates are used in the production of cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, building materials, animal feed, sorbents, and water filters, as well as in the field of modern energy storage and conversion, such as supercapacitors. The key importance of this material is attributed to its ability to sequestrate carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The relentless growth of the global economy and the high demand for energy generate large amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere. Solving the carbon balance problem and the low-carbon energy transition toward carbon neutrality is very challenging. Biochar therefore appears to be an excellent tool for creating systems that can play an important role in mitigating climate change. The purpose of this review is to consolidate the existing knowledge and assess the potential of biochar in carbon neutrality based on the application sector.