Chapter 3 - Cookstoves for biochar production and carbon capture

Abstract

Cookstoves designed for biochar production can capture carbon and use it for land application. Using biochar cookstoves can be a simple and effective household intervention for climate change mitigation. Adaptation of biochar cookstoves such as Top-lit updraft (TLUD) in everyday cooking by millions of rural villagers worldwide in developing countries can promote smoke and an emission-free air, faster cooking time, less fuelwood needs, and a healthy lifestyle for women. Most of the fuel material in the TLUD reaches temperatures > 450 °C. However, TLUD cookstoves can be customized in the local context and availability of biomass fuels such as wood, agroforestry residue, dung, etc. As it sequestrates carbon in the form of biochar, the land application can improve the agricultural and soil ecosystem by increasing carbon content and soil organic matter, improving water holding capacity, and preventing nutrient loss. Biochar storage in soils has been suggested to abate climate change through carbon sequestration and modern agro-technology for land and animal. However, rural users might feel trouble during fuel preparation, reloading, lighting, and handling of air vents, many of which can be solved by training and awareness-raising the users to troubleshoot.