Description

Sylva Fertilis, a part of the SLB Group, a forestry consortium in France, specializes in the manufacturing of high-quality biochar products for both retail and wholesale markets. They are one of the largest biochar suppliers in France. Their manufacturing facility, located in Argentan in the Normandy region, produces biochar from wood pellets. The wood pellets are sourced from a manufacturer near Reims in the east of France, which produces pellets from timber from sustainably certified forests.

The process results in two granularities of char: 0-1 mm and > 1mm. A small portion of the biochar is augmented with mycorrhizal fungi to create soil improvement products under the Terra Fertilis® brand. The remaining biochar is sold as soil improvement products to municipalities, farmers, golf courses, wine producers, and forestry operations.

Application

• Agriculture: Enhancing soil health and increasing nutrient and water retention, particularly beneficial for wine production.
• Green Spaces: Used by major French cities like Reims, Lyon, and Nancy to reduce water usage in parks and green spaces by 20-50%.
• Soil Improvement: Basis for organic fertilizers and improvement of soil structure.

Carbon Sequestration Potential

The biochar produced by Sylva Fertilis boasts a carbon content of  over 90%, with each dry ton of biochar sequestering 2.7 tonnes of CO2 equivalent. This process has been confirmed through a lifecycle assessment (LCA) carried out by Accend in 2024, accounting for all emissions from forestry material harvesting to biochar transport and application

Co-benefits

• Water Savings: Biochar application in green spaces of major cities in France has resultedd in significant water usage reduction, ranging from 20% to 50%.
  
  
• Harvesting and forestry management sustainably decreases the risk of forest fires, insect damage and diseases.

• Biochar is deployed directly or indirectly for soil improvement. It dramatically increases water and nutrient retention in the soil leading to yield increases.

• Biochar reduces nutrient leaching, which has caused damage to waterways and seas.Biochar reduces the need for artificial fertilizers, which are typically energy-intensive to produce.

• Green jobs: The production of biochar creates green jobs throughout the value chain from harvesting to distribution and usage.

Emissions avoidance

The baseline scenario for the usage of pellets is combustion, either domestically or in bioenergy production. In otherwords, in the absence of Sylva Fertilis' production, the pellets used as feedstock would be burnt resulting in the release of CO2. The global warming impact of burning pellets is between 150-190 gr. CO₂ e/MJ. In the long-term, these emissions can be considered to be carbon-neutral as the source is biomass.

Additionality

• Investment in Capacity Expansion: Revenue from Puro.Earth carbon credits is enabling Sylva Fertilis to double its production capacity by investing in two new pyrolyzers.
• New Distribution Channels: Carbon credit revenues are also invested in creating new distribution channels for biochar, which will increase carbon removals.
• Economic Viability: The income from carbon credits is crucial for the growth and development of Sylva Fertilis' biochar business, ensuring continued innovation and expansion.