Trees capture energy from the sun, drawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into their woody structure to build more complex forms of carbon. Carbohydrate fibers like cellulose, and lignin store carbon in wood biomass. When that biomass is exposed to high temperatures, the energy from the sun that was used to create their bodies is rapidly released. In this way, the biomass can be thought of as a battery of solar energy. Genesis Biochar production involves the cooking of softwood waste biomass at very high temperatures, a process called pyrolysis. At these high temperatures a portion of the carbon captured by the biomass is immediately released. A very high percent of the carbon can remain in its new form of biochar. The release of heat energy from this process is captured and used to create steam which is used to generate electricity.
The biomass co-generation power plant that produces Genesis Biochar plays an important role in waste wood biomass management in northwestern Montana. The plant can produce electricity rain or shine for up to 2500 homes. The co-generation process used to produce the electricity simultaneously produces Genesis Biochar. This production process provides a pathway for fixing carbon and sequestering it into soils among many other uses. This is a form of Biomass Energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), listed by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as a key technology for carbon draw down. Genesis Biochar is one of the few companies that produces USDA Organic Certified biochar.