Where potential meets opportunity
It’s no secret that BC has a slash pile problem. Each year, millions of tonnes of low-quality forest residues are burned, releasing carbon and creating risks. But what if these and other residuals could unlock climate solutions and near-term, high-value economic opportunities?
This is where biocarbon holds real potential, and BC is well-positioned to lead it to commercial reality. NorthX is proud to launch our latest report, Biocarbon Rising: From Concept to Commercialization, developed in collaboration with Energy Super Modelers and International Analysts (ESMIA). This report explores the fundamentals of biocarbon, its commercial viability, and how this emerging sector can support deep decarbonization while delivering real economic value.
For NorthX, research reports like this not only work to inform Canadians of upcoming climate tech opportunities, but are also a key part of the data gathering that underpins our investment theses, shaping future funding opportunities. Our intelligent, risk-taking framework empowers us to confidently lead investment into disruptive, climate technology innovation.
Laying the groundwork for biocarbon
Since our early days, NorthX has strived to understand the relationship between bioenergy and carbon management. Our 2023 Carbon Management Blueprint laid the foundation by outlining the existing biomass solutions, their usage requirements, and their potential for decarbonization and scale.
As we moved from research to real-world applications, the 2023 Call for Innovation: Forest Residue Management highlighted the innovation already underway. Our team was struck by the number of proposals centred on biochar, with innovators across BC working to transform slash pile waste into high-value, carbon-rich products.
Building on this knowledge, our 2024 Catalyzing Carbon Dioxide Removal at Scale report explored the carbon removal potential of biochar and other biomass products. It focused on engineered and hybrid approaches, their feedstocks, and their effectiveness for long-term storage.
The growing emphasis on biochar, alongside the provincial government’s low carbon fuel production goals supported by the Low Carbon Fuels Standard, prompted a broader question: Is biochar the only viable biomass pathway, or are there untapped opportunities for other biocarbon products?
Unlocking opportunities for BC to lead
BC is uniquely positioned to become a global leader in the biocarbon sector, with abundant natural resources offering diverse feedstock opportunities, deep technical expertise, a thriving innovation ecosystem, and supportive regulatory frameworks. From feedstock to full-scale deployments, BC is already laying the groundwork for scalable, next-generation carbon solutions.
What is biocarbon? Biocarbon consists of the solid, liquid, and gaseous products made when biomass is heated with little or no oxygen. This process can produce products such as biochar, bio-coal and torrefied pellets, hydrochar, bio-oil, wood vinegar, and synthesis gas (syngas).
Innovatree Carbon Group, a First Nations-owned company, is a leading example of local innovation. The company is using biochar to restore forests and capture carbon through community-driven, nature-based solutions. With NorthX support, they’ve developed a proprietary-amended biochar, derived from BC bioenergy facilities, as a large-scale, zero-emission alternative to peat moss in seedling cultivation. This approach not only avoids the emissions from peat extraction but also sequesters carbon while supporting reforestation.
Ashley Callister
Investment Lead, NorthXWhile the report is focused on BC, any jurisdiction with access to ample residual resources could replicate the commercialization model demonstrated. Favourable policy environments could further accelerate biocarbon project development.
From concept to commercialization
In this report, we define and clarify the emerging biocarbon sector in BC, outlining what it is, where the commercial opportunities lie, and who stands to benefit.
It’s an essential reading for clean energy investors, industry leaders, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of sustainable fuels and carbon removal.
Download the report and register for the informational webinar here.
Interested in the techno-economics of converting biomass and biogenic carbon emissions into drop-in low carbon fuels like sustainable aviation fuel? Look out for our low carbon drop-in fuels report coming out this fall!
