Assess the product and the process together.
Biochar is a carbon-rich product from appropriate thermal conversion of eligible material. It is not an automatic output of anaerobic digestion. Adding a biochar pathway requires separate assessment of inputs, preparation, equipment, emissions, product quality and customers. [[ European Biochar Certificate, Biochar Guidelines ](https://www.european-biochar.org/en/certificate); C01] Confirm the intended land application or industrial use and its applicable requirements before assuming certification creates a local market.
Start with the input and process
Identify the material’s moisture, composition and contaminants. Confirm whether drying or other preparation is required and where the energy will come from. Specify the actual conversion method. Hydrothermal carbonisation produces hydrochar, which should not automatically inherit biochar terminology, specifications or storage claims.
Qualify the product for its use
Potential uses depend on the product and market. Soil, material and other applications require their own performance and safety evidence. Analyse the relevant characteristics and obtain customer acceptance before treating output as a saleable premium product.
Assess a complete additional business case
Include feedstock preparation, conversion, emissions control, handling, testing, transport and rejected output. Account for energy recovered or used without counting it twice. Co-location may reduce some logistics, but that advantage must be tested against installed and operating costs.
Keep carbon claims distinct from product sales
Carbon-storage revenue needs an applicable methodology, measurement, verification and eligible end use. Do not equate every tonne of char with a fixed quantity of saleable carbon credits. European Biochar Certificate documents provide a voluntary quality and certification reference; they are not blanket Australian regulatory approval. [[ European Biochar Certificate, Biochar Guidelines ](https://www.european-biochar.org/en/certificate)]
Build demand through evidence
Shelby recommends buyer trials and appropriate Australian application testing alongside engineering assessment. A project can develop a useful char product without having a verified carbon-credit revenue stream. Show each income source separately and use a downside case without speculative credits.
Build a separate thermochemical and product case
Biochar is associated with suitable thermochemical processing, commonly pyrolysis, not an automatic anaerobic-digestion output. Processing digestate into char would require additional drying and conversion technology with its own energy, emissions and approvals case.
| Decision | Evidence needed | Risk to model |
|---|---|---|
| Feedstock suitability | Input history, moisture, contaminants and permitted processing | Drying cost and unsuitable inputs |
| Conversion | Pyrolysis conditions, demonstrated equipment scope and yield | Availability, auxiliary energy and emissions controls |
| Product specification | Representative char properties and contaminants | Rejected or lower-grade product |
| Lawful use | Applicable waste / product rules and customer use | No automatic soil-use permission |
| Performance / demand | Independent evidence for the intended application and accepting buyers | Unsupported benefit or limited demand |
| Carbon accounting | Applicable method, lifecycle boundary, durability and independent verification | No assumed removal credit from a sale |
Include equipment, drying, emission control, testing, handling and delivery costs. Product sales and any eligible carbon claim are different revenue lines; do not claim an entitlement without the actual method and verification. Retain a no-credit case and qualified market limits.
Frequently asked questions
Does an AD plant naturally produce biochar?
No. It produces biogas and digestate; biochar requires additional suitable conversion.
Are hydrochar and biochar interchangeable?
No. Their processes and characteristics differ, so specifications and claims need separate assessment.
Can carbon-credit revenue be assumed?
Only where methodology eligibility, verification, ownership and commercial arrangements are established.
Sources & References
- European Biochar Certificate, Biochar Guidelines
Publication: Date not verified
Observation period: Version-specific standards and carbon-sink documents
Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified
Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11
Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.
Medium-high for scheme requirements; not Australian law or guaranteed carbon-credit eligibility
- Shelby Bioenergy, Shelby’s National Renewable Gas Policy consultation response
Publication: 2026-10
Observation period: October 2026
Relevant page / section: Supplied company position
Last link / title verification: Not verified
Company position / supplied material, not independent evidence.
Proposals and scenarios, not adopted policy or market offers.
- Shelby Bioenergy, Shelby research and calculator methodology
Publication: 2026-10
Observation period: Research cut-off 7 October 2026
Relevant page / section: Research and calculation controls
Last link / title verification: Not verified
Company position / supplied material, not independent evidence.
Selected sources, not a national asset census.