Project goals

The use of biomass as an alternative source of energy is a significant contribution to the mitigation of climate change. Beneficial conversion of biomass requires research into the thermochemical processes, including gasification and pyrolysis. However, these processes generate by-product residues (ash, biochar, and bio-oil); effective utilization of byproducts is important for ensuring the sustainability of the process.

The intensification of using biochar as carbon storage is another perspective direction in climate change mitigation. When applied to soils it results in long-term carbon sequestration from stable C in the biochar and amending soil. And finally, the production of C4 crops contributes to the mitigation of climate change, and among them, Miscanthus × giganteus is the most promising as it reaches true CO2 neutrality and functions as a CO2 sink. However, research into GHG mitigation during this plant’s multiyear production is very limited. The crop shows good phytoremediation potential, nevertheless, its successful utilization with the mixture of organic and non-organic contaminated soil has been studied only sparingly. The next steps need to involve field-scale experimentation.

The ongoing military conflicts around the world have caused widespread damage and complex contamination of military lands. The almost year-long Great War of Ukraine against Russian intervention has caused enormous contamination and damage to the country, including a tremendous negative effect on its natural resources. This includes direct contamination, remnants, pollution from weapons, destroyed military equipment, and the bombing of all Ukrainian territory. As of January 2023, the state authority reported 31,486 t of oil products and 2000 t of poisonous substances spilt to the soil. These lands must be revitalized through various effective means, and the application of phytotechnology with M×g is a promising option.

The main goal of this project is to environmentally regenerate former military sites while also mitigating climate change by implementing advanced M×g phytotechnology over a multiyear period on complex contaminated military lands in Ukraine (Nemishayeve, Borodyanka rajon, Kyiv region and Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk) with the physicochemical conversion of biomass waste while ensuring by-product valorization.

The sub-goals of the project are:

  1. To test Miscanthus biochar produced from waste biomass via pyrolysis with the utilization of M×g advanced phytotechnology applied to mixed-contaminated military lands.
  2. To test the ash from M×g biomass gasification as a soil supplement in the M×g production cycle.
  3. To simulate syngas and bio-oil pathways and the valorization of trace elements-contaminated biochar.
  4. To verify the rhizosphere interactions and influencing factors that mediate phytotechnology.
  5. To illustrate the GHG mitigation effect during the utilization of advanced phytotechnology on the mixed-contaminated military lands supplemented with by-products.
  6. To evaluate the sustainability of advanced technology, including the economics of biochar systems and related mitigation effects, based on selected indicators.
  7. To strengthen education on climate change and the circular economy.
  8. To transfer information on innovative advanced phytotechnology to end-users and to exchange knowledge among NATO and partner countries.

The main outcomes of the project will be (a) advanced M×g phytotechnology as applied to mixed contaminated military lands; (b) the GHG mitigation potential of advanced phytotechnology supported by by-products of physicochemical processing of M×g biomass; and (c) pathways for the valorization of by-products from gasification and pyrolysis of M×g wastebiomass.

This project is relevant to the SPS Key Priority in Climate Change because it develops innovative and low-carbon advanced phytotechnology for the remediation of mixed contaminated military lands. The project is relevant to the SPS Key Priority in Environmental Security as it focuses on improving biomass waste gasification and pyrolysis, ensuring the valorization of by-products and enhancing soil health. The project is referred to as an “Energy Security” priority, i.e.: “renewable energy solutions with military application,” because it implies the production of renewable M×g biomass at the former military sites. The project is in line with the outcomes of the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, with the new strategic concept focusing on the assessment of mitigation effects, such as carbon sequestration during multiyear M×g production on military soils and promoting low-carbon environmental technologies for broad operation.