In this working group, experts and decision-makers from industry, administration, research and civil society exchange project ideas, results, lessons learned, current challenges and the future scaling of CDR methods. The working group focuses on bridging the gap between innovative research, pilot projects and scaling. It serves as a network, provides feedback on CDR R&D, innovation and pilot activities and explores potential synergies. Members share information on innovation trends, ongoing and planned projects, funding opportunities and collaboration prospects. The group, which is co-chaired by Cyril Brunner (ETH Zurich), Björn Niesen (Empa) and Samuel Eberenz (Risiko-Dialog), meets regularly online and at least once a year in person. A mailing list facilitates the exchange of information and communication between meetings.

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In Switzerland, political measures and regulations for CO₂ removal and storage are in their infancy. With the CDR Swiss Policy Working Group, we want to contribute to the framework conditions for a sustainable and jointly designed expansion of CDR from a multi-stakeholder perspective. In addition, we offer a space for internal exchange on policy-related developments and activities and coordinate interventions. The working group is co-chaired by Valentina Nesa ( EBP) and Lukas Fehr (Risk Dialogue). A mailing list enables members to exchange information, ask questions and get in touch between meetings. Help us to create a fruitful framework for CDR in Switzerland!

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The working group investigates the role of Bio-based Solid Carbon Removals (BSCR) in the context of net-zero targets for cities and regions by 2040. In the flagship project DeCIRRA it was recognized that sinks for solid carbon are still considered a niche and are partly not properly reflected in the energy and decarbonization models, although they are in some cases significantly cheaper and technically more mature than other concepts. Based on this realization, a working group or task force has been formed, initiated by committed platform members and independent of the office, with the aim of expanding the resulting network and knowledge and making BSCR better known. Our group focuses primarily on carbon management technologies (CMT) for storing carbon from biomass at different soil depths through processes such as pyrolysis or hydrothermal carbonization (HTC). The following people are active in the working group: Christina Marchand, Gabriel Gerner (ZHAW), Roman Hüppi (myclimate), Pirmin Aregger (Recoal), Noel Schweizer (Inkoh), Rienk Smittenberg (WSL), Stefan Gautschi (gautschi-eng, GRegio Energie AG), Urs Baier (Biomasse Suisse). The task force meets about 6 times a year, depending on the project status and objectives.

We are currently focusing on the following topics: energy use versus carbon removal (e.g. wood combustion vs. pyrolysis, biogas vs. humus fertilizer, sewage sludge incineration vs. HTC and the comparison of the various CMTs in terms of time availability, TRL and systemic feasibility; co-benefits (nutrient supply, soil carbon); political framework conditions (Switzerland and EU); legal challenges (conversion of waste material to recyclable material); costs and scaling options.

These are our goals for the current year: Initiate further calculations of the potentials using various energy and climate models in order to better understand the role of bio- and hydrochar in particular by 2040; Further networking & outreach in politics & business & research and thus enable pilot projects and sandboxes; Make best practices from abroad better known in Switzerland.

If you are interested in our work or would like to support us, please contact Christina Marchand.

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