Celebrating the launch of Chile’s first semi‑industrial biochar plant

Yesterday, UDT – Universidad de Concepción and Corfo inaugurated the first semi‑industrial biochar plant in Chile, part of the PTEC Biochar Chile program. The demonstration unit can process about 100 kg/h of biomass using thermo‑chemical conversion, providing a testing ground for technologies that convert agro‑industrial waste into stable carbon and renewable energy.

We were honoured to attend the ceremony alongside representatives from UDT, Corfo, government officials and partner companies. In our presentation, Sherpas outlined how carbon markets and Article 6 mechanisms can support projects like Biochar Chile — creating incentives for sustainable agriculture and industry. We also highlighted the long‑standing collaboration between Sherpas and UDT: from feasibility studies to the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), we’ve jointly explored ways to valorise residual biomass and generate high‑integrity carbon credits.

The plant’s inauguration marks a decisive step toward a bioeconomy and climate‑action agenda for Chile. By producing high‑quality biochar and validating industrial‑scale processes, the facility will help farmers improve soil health, sequester carbon and reduce methane emissions from waste streams. For Sherpas, it’s an opportunity to connect circular innovation with international carbon finance, demonstrating that local projects can meet global standards and attract investment.

We extend our sincere thanks to UDT and Corfo for the invitation and trust placed in Sherpas. Together with partners like EST Ltda., Ecomaule, VOLTA Chile, Pinturas Hewstone and the Asociación Chilena de Biomasa, we look forward to scaling up biochar deployment, expanding into new regions and linking Chilean innovation with buyers in Switzerland, Japan and beyond.