Carbo Culture Establishes Pioneering Biochar Carbon Removal Plant in the Netherlands

The Finland-based company enhances thriving Dutch ecosystems in chemicals, energy and agrifood

Finland-based Carbo Culture, a climate technology company building a rapidly scalable biochar carbon removal solution, is establishing its first industrial-scale biochar carbon removal facility in the Netherlands.

Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich material produced by heating organic biomass in a low-oxygen environment, which can be used to improve soil health and lock away carbon for centuries. At the new ARC Middenmeer plant in Middenmeer, North Holland, Carbo Culture will be producing biochar through its proprietary Carbolysis technology; the only technology capable of converting biomass into biochar carbon removal and renewable energy in quantities fit for industrial-scale operations.

Pioneering sustainable carbon solutions for the energy transition

The project sits at the intersection of chemicals,  energy and agrifood, supporting sustainable innovation across all three of these sector ecosystems in the Netherlands.

The biochar will first be used as a horticultural growing medium in high-tech greenhouses, and then it will be applied in open-field agriculture where the carbon can remain stored for more than 1,000 years. The unique Carbolysis process also turns oil and tar by-products into an energy-rich biogenic syngas, that can be burnt to create fossil-free energy.

Once operational, the plant will deliver more than 20,000 tonnes of permanent CO₂ sequestration annually, produce around 40,000 m³ of premium biochar each year for the Dutch high-tech greenhouse sector, and generate renewable energy for local users.

Dutch innovation support accelerates project development

To support the launch of ARC Middenmeer, Carbo Culture was recently awarded a €3.5 million grant by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) under the TSE Industry Studies programme. The funding enables technical pre-development work, including engineering and validation activities needed to bring its Carbolysis™ technology to industrial scale.

The facility will sit within the ECW Energy horticulture and data centre cluster in Agriport A7, a world-class energy generation hub for data centres and greenhouses with over 400 MW of energy capacity in wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and natural gas. The hub serves one of Europe’s largest concentrations of horticultural greenhouses and two data centers.

Carbo Culture’s facility in the Netherlands marks further evidence of the country’s ability to bring in transformative companies and help them expand their business. With its pioneering sustainable carbon solutions, Carbo Culture’s is contributing to the innovative chemicals, energy and agrifood ecosystems in the Netherlands, all while helping to shape a more sustainable future.

Source: Carbo Culture