California: Biochar enhanced concrete
SOM, OurCarbon, and CarbonPilot enable 26% carbon reduction in concrete by integration biochar made from biosolids.
Dec 9, 2024
NEW YORK, NY (March 14, 2025) — CarbonPilot, a digital monitoring, reporting, and verification solution provider for carbon removal projects, today announced a successful partnership with global architecture firm SOM, material innovator Bioforcetech, and concrete supplier Central Concrete to implement biochar-enhanced concrete at an Oakland school campus project. The collaboration achieved up to 26% reduction in embodied carbon while meeting all structural and performance requirements.
The project utilized Bioforcetech's OurCarbon® biosolids biochar as a partial replacement for traditional aggregate in concrete, creating a carbon-negative building material. CarbonPilot's digital MRV platform provided the necessary data tracking and verification throughout the project, documenting a total carbon benefit of 2.38 metric tons of CO₂ removed and avoided.
This project demonstrates the potential of integrating waste-derived biochar into structural concrete while maintaining performance standards.
The integration of biochar into concrete offers multiple environmental benefits, including diverting organic waste from landfills, storing carbon long-term in durable infrastructure, and reducing the embodied carbon of construction materials. The project achieved a 26.1% decrease in global warming potential for site work concrete and a 12.3% decrease for footing concrete, with approximately 76.5 pounds of CO₂ stored per cubic yard of enhanced concrete.
CarbonPilot's platform tracked each stage of the process, from biosolid conversion to final concrete placement, ensuring accurate data collection and verification. This comprehensive approach required close coordination between project partners, with SOM identifying appropriate applications for the biochar concrete, Central Concrete developing and testing the mix, and CarbonPilot documenting the environmental performance.
The project addresses a significant opportunity for carbon reduction in the built environment, as concrete production accounts for approximately 8% of global CO₂ emissions. If scaled globally, biochar-enhanced concrete could potentially remove hundreds of millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually while putting waste materials to productive use.
About CarbonPilot
CarbonPilot provides digital monitoring, reporting, and verification solutions for carbon removal projects, with a focus on biochar and construction applications. Their platform enables accurate measurement and documentation of environmental impacts across supply chains, helping project developers implement sustainability initiatives with transparency and integrity.
About Bioforcetech
Bioforcetech develops technology to transform organic waste, including biosolids from wastewater treatment, into carbon-negative biochar products. Their OurCarbon® material offers a sustainable alternative to landfilling that sequesters carbon while providing value in applications such as construction materials and soil amendments.
About SOM
SOM is a collective of architects, designers, engineers, and planners working together to build a better future. The firm has created some of the world's most technically and environmentally advanced buildings and urban environments, with a focus on innovative, sustainable design strategies.
About Central Concrete
Central Concrete, a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials Company, is a leader in developing and supplying low-carbon concrete for construction projects throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. The company offers a comprehensive range of concrete solutions with a commitment to reducing the environmental impact of construction materials while maintaining superior performance and workability.
For more information, contact:
CarbonPilot: founders@carbonpilot.com
24 W 35th St, Ste 500, New York, NY 10001