Treehouse California Almonds is developing a new biochar manufacturing facility in Delano that will be the first commercial system directly tied to agriculture on the west coast.
Treehouse Almonds is partnering with biochar producer Sitos Group on the $9 million slow pyrolysis biochar manufacturing facility.
The big picture: The new facility will be 25,000 square feet and is expected to be complete by the end of next year.
- Almond shells that are processed through Treehouse Almond’s hulling and shelling operations will be transformed into biochar.
- The facility will be funded by private investment from Sitos Group shareholders and New Markets Tax Credits, a federal program that provides tax credits to attract private investment.
Go deeper: The Delano facility will be able to process six thousand pounds of almond shell feedstock per hour.
- It will have three slow-pyrolysis units that operate as a single unit, a fully integrated drying system with emissions and dust control and Organic Rankine Cycle generators to repurpose heat energy from the units into clean electricity that will support the local power grid.
Why it matters: Biochar is black carbon produced from biomass, which includes agricultural waste. It is produced for the purpose of transforming biomass carbon into a more stable form.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture says the main purpose of biochar is for carbon sequestration.
- Biochar also enhances soil quality by improving moisture retention, increasing nutrient holding capacity and providing a favorable habitat for beneficial microorganisms. Biochar can lead to improved crop yields and also can aid in reducing nutrient runoff in soil.
What they’re saying: Treehouse Almonds President Mark Masten said the partnership with Sitos Group represents another step toward climate-smart action and regenerative agriculture.
- “We see this partnership as a tremendous advancement not only for our orchards and California’s environment, but also for our growers and business partners – for many years to come,” Masten.
- Sitos Group CEO Mayo Ryan added, “This landmark partnership with Treehouse California Almonds will establish our first commercial biochar facility, transforming almond shells into a powerful tool for carbon removal and regenerative agriculture. This project represents a significant step toward a circular economy in California’s agricultural sector, taking biochar production to a meaningful scale.”
