When it comes to biotechnology that studies and modifies biomaterials, the construction industry is not the first thing that comes to mind. A good example, however, is biochar, which can be used to bind carbon to green structures and increase the positive climate effects of construction.
"As a porous material, biochar has dozens of different uses in construction. At the same time, it acts as a carbon sink and curbs climate change," says GRK Anneliina Kupiainen a product still unknown to many builders.
Biochar is coal made from wood chips or other biomass. In the infrastructure sector, biochar can be used, for example, as a soil conditioner in green areas and in environmental projects. It is also suitable for treating stormwater and cleaning runoff and soil from nutrients and heavy metals. Its suitability has even been tested as a raw material for asphalt and concrete.
Kupiainen works as the business director of environmental technology at GRK, and for a long time the calendar has been filled with events related to biochar. Before moving to promote the green transition and the use of biochar, he had time to work for three years as CEO of GRK's Swedish railway construction operations in the newly founded GRK Rail AB. Last year, GRK renewed its organization and company structure, in connection with which Kupiainen moved to the environmental technology side. The transition was smooth, because carbon produced artificially from biomass was a material he was already familiar with.
"Stockholm area energy company Stockholm Exergi built its own pilot plant for the production of biochar when I used to work there," says Anneliina Kupiainen.
GRK invests in the bioproduct business
GRK is known for designing, building, repairing and maintaining roads, tracks and bridges. But GRK's know-how is also environmental technology, which is now being rapidly advanced.
In environmental matters, GRK has long been in the vanguard of pioneers in promoting the circular economy. For the past couple of years, the company has invested in the production of biochar, and a new bioproducts unit has been established for that purpose. It now has ambitious goals.
"In addition to Finland, plants for the production of biochar are planned to be built in Estonia and Sweden. GRK has decided to invest heavily in biochar production. By 2025, the goal is to invest around 20 million euros in at least five facilities. The first plant in Finland was completed last year in Utajärvi, and good experiences have already been gained from it."
According to Kupiainen, the initiative to use biochar came from the vice-chairman of GRK's board From Keijo Haaviko already four years ago. From there, the idea has started to evolve into today's extensive investment plans.
At first, in my own projects
"At GRK, biochar is intended to be used especially for managing and cleaning storm, waste and process water. Biochar has a lot of possibilities for the filtration of different types of water on a wider scale, for example, thinking of the euphoric Baltic Sea," says Kupiainen.
GRK's goal is to produce enough biochar that, in addition to its own use, it can possibly be sold to other users. At the moment, however, the focus is on using self-produced biochar in the company's own projects.
"Responsibility is a key factor in our strategy, according to which GRK intends to be carbon neutral in its own operations by 2030. Biochar is one of the products that can be used to reduce the emissions of one's own operations."
"It has already been used as a soil conditioner, in filter solutions and in finishing green areas of road and bridge projects. With the help of biochar, biodiversity has been increased. Destinations have been, for example, the Vaasa cycling alliance and the Kalasatama to Pasilaan project," Anneliina Kupiainen lists the destinations.
Subscribers' awareness increases
GRK's goal is to be a significant biochar producer in Finland and later also in the Nordic countries.
"Exact profitability calculations have been made for such large investment plans. Interest and demand in the market are growing all the time. For us, the city of Helsinki has been a pioneer in the use of biochar, in Sweden their transport authority, Trafikverket, has used a lot of biochar."
Anneliina Kupiainen believes that the awareness of the good environmental effects of biochar will increase among customers project by project. At the moment, information spreads when GRK uses it in its own projects.
"It may be that the customer already wants to use biochar in the site, or we can suggest it. The competence of the planning and subcontracting side for the use of biochar should be increased from the current one. Interest is often ignited after people are involved in a project using biochar for the first time and experience the benefits it brings."
From mushroom cultivation to wastewater treatment
An interesting example of how innovative construction-related biotechnological research is already being done in companies is the joint project of the Lohja Munkka waste center.
"Munkkaa is a great and versatile joint project, where an entire circular economy ecosystem is created in the waste center. GRK, Rosk'n Roll, Kiertoravinne and Redono are involved in the project, where everyone brings their own special expertise to it."
The MunBio project aims at local nutrient recycling, water management and the production of cleaner biomass, local food, soil improvers and food raw materials. It is looking for new ways to improve the water management system in landfill areas and reduce the load on the city's wastewater treatment plant. In practice, the project pilots, among other things, the cultivation of fiber hemp on top of a closed landfill and the filtration of waste water with biochar.
"The Munkkaa project shows well how versatile a product biochar is and why we are now so excited about its development," sums up Anneliina Kupiainen.
Production of biochar
Biochar is produced in pyrolysis, where biomass is heated in an oxygen-free or low-oxygen environment, the end product of which is biochar. GRK's Utajärvi production facility uses wood chips as a byproduct of a nearby sawmill. The plant's capacity is approximately 3 tons of biochar annually. Pyrolysis also produces surplus heat, which in Utajärvi is used to dry the sawdust used in the production of pellets in the production of a pellet plant operating in the same connection. Recycled wood, willow and horse bedding manure can also be used as raw materials in the future.
Advantages of biochar
- one ton of biochar binds about three tons of carbon from the air
- the carbon bound to biochar is in a permanent form
- improves the soil's water retention capacity and nutrient binding capacity
- binds soil moisture and heavy metals
- increases soil porosity and airiness
- does not contain harmful substances
