Check Out Our New Pyrolysis Unit! Biochar in Cincinnati is One Step Closer

Cincinnati will be one of the first cities in the US to produce biochar, an amazing substance that sequesters harmful CO2 from the environment and helps new trees grow faster and stronger. The magic happens in our brand-new, just arrived, pyrolysis unit where wood waste will be converted into biochar. This innovative technology has many environmental benefits. It will be used to capture carbon, improve urban plantings, grow the tree canopy in underserved neighborhoods, and even support more effective stormwater management.

A new production facility will be constructed to make biochar through a specialized process where plant material is cooked at very high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment. Ultimately, the biochar will be used to enhance tree plantings done by Cincinnati Parks and our other partners. Contributors to the project include Great Parks, Cincinnati Parks, Carbon Harvest, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability.

In addition to the pyrolysis unit, a large boiler, an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) generator and cooling loop were received. The delivery of this large, specialized equipment is a key milestone in the development of Cincinnati’s first such facility.

Biochar will be one component of a larger undertaking to renovate Cincinnati Parks Sinton Avenue operations center, coupling two significant and complex projects together. The Sinton Avenue hub currently serves crews throughout the Cincinnati Parks system and is badly in need of repair and improvement. Project components include a new roof with covered loading area, exterior glazing, new zoned HVAC, electric, offices, employee restrooms, solar panels, EV charging stations, improved material storage, and more.

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