Raphael Thysbiofuels
Thursday, 13 June 2024 Following successful external trials, Indo-Danish carbon removal company MASH Makes has launched a new technological solution to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries, starting with shipping.
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Recent tests have demonstrated MASH Makes waste-based biofuel's viability as a 'drop-in' replacement for fossil fuels in the sector. In collaboration with leading global shipping company NORDEN, it will now be trialed in live vessels.
These trials represent a key milestone in the transition to net zero, with biofuel now poised to play a key role in decarbonizing shipping and heavy industry.
Shipping facilitates over 80% of global trade and uses more than 330 million tons of fossil fuel every year, accounting for over 3% of CO2 emissions annually – more than all of Germany. Achieving climate goals is impossible without decarbonizing this global economic lynchpin, and it has proven difficult to achieve this using the go-to technologies of the green transition.
MASH Makes developed its biofuel to address this challenge and decouple the industry's growth from carbon emissions.
The company will use its proprietary thermochemical process to transform a wide range of 'waste' products into energy and carbon removal solutions to deliver positive environmental impact at the gigaton-level.
Henrik Røjel, Head of Decarbonization & Climate Solutions at NORDEN, says, "These results confirm the quality of MASH Makes' biofuel as a viable new sustainable fuel for shipping. We're excited to be part of this journey together with MASH Makes' and provide new sustainable fuel options that will support decarbonization in shipping and other critical industries."
MASH Makes also uses agricultural by-products to produce biochar, which improves soil fertility and permanently removes carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
Biochar is a potential game changer for the environment, sequestering carbon that would otherwise have been released into the atmosphere as farm waste decomposes and producing a product that can be used to aid soils1. MASH Makes' recent three-season field trial of its biochar demonstrated a 21% average increase in crop yield per season.
The company's first plant in Karnataka, India is already capable of processing 23,700 tons of agricultural waste annually, and other larger plants are in development throughout India and Vietnam.
Moreover, its technology fits within a shipping container, enabling marginalized rural populations in the Global South to play an important role in, and benefit from, the green transition.
Irfan Shaikh, Head of Agriculture at NGO MANAVLOK, said. "We've seen positive results in crop yields across multiple seasons, leading to significantly higher returns for farmers. By using MASH Makes' biochar, farmers can also reduce their reliance on fossil fuel-based inputs that harm the climate."
In recognition of its innovative approach and scalable solutions, MASH Makes has recently been announced as a Top 20 finalist for XPRIZE Carbon Removal, and now moves on to compete for a $50 million prize. The contest aims to combat climate change and rebalance the Earth's carbon cycle by fostering innovative solutions from around the globe.
1) According to a recent study in GCB Bioenergy, biochar's potential for carbon sequestration is significant, estimated at 0.3–1.3 Pg C per year, as it enhances soil by substituting organic matter and increasing residue retention, ultimately contributing to broader climate change mitigation efforts. Biochar can also be used for animal feed, insulation, cement, textiles, and other applications.