Biochar is starting to move from niche discussions into real-world use. Across Europe, and elsewhere, there is growing attention on what pyrolysis technologies and biochar can actually deliver in practice, setting the scene for the second edition of the annual Biochar Summit, slated to take place in Vienna, Austria, June 10-11, 2026.
From turning biomass residues into useful carbon materials, heat, and/or power to supporting industrial decarbonisation and reducing fossil carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, pyrolysis is increasingly seen as part of integrated biorefineries and as a means toward a more circular and competitive bioeconomy.
Organised by the European Biochar Industry Consortium (Biochar Europe), the 2026 Biochar Summit brings together policymakers, industry, cities, researchers, and project developers to focus on a simple but important question: how do we actually make these solutions work at scale?
Some of the discussions will look at:
- How biomass residues can be used more effectively through pyrolysis
- Where biochar is already being tested in water treatment and pollution management
- What new approaches are emerging in wastewater treatment and resource recovery, and
- What still needs to change in policy and markets to move faster
The aim of the 2026 Biochar Summit, which also includes a pre-conference technical workshop on June 9 and an optional post-conference study tour to biochar facilities on June 12, is not just to exchange ideas but to connect people already working on these challenges and better understand what is needed next to facilitate widespread rollout of pyrolysis technologies in Europe.
