Will Biochar Concrete Be the Future of GCC Building Projects?
Green Valley Biochar, a leading biochar producer in the Middle East, has teamed up with Bton Group, a German technology-driven concrete company. They've signed an MOU to collaborate on supply and partnerships, aiming to push sustainable construction forward in the GCC region.
The main focus of this MOU is to use biochar, which is typically used to improve soil, in concrete production. Bton Group has created a technology that incorporates biochar into concrete without any negative effects. In fact, it actually enhances the concrete’s durability and makes the product climate positive, achieving more than 100 percent CO2 savings.
According to the agreement, Green Valley will either supply or manage pyrolysis plants to produce biochar and secure biomass supply. Bton Group will then use this biochar in their concrete production. This opens a new market for Green Valley's biochar and allows Bton Group to offer large-scale climate-positive solutions in the region.
This partnership will significantly impact stakeholders across the regional construction ecosystem. Bton Group’s expansion plans in the GCC will require a substantial amount of biochar, necessitating the establishment of multiple new plants operated by Green Valley, benefiting from the increased use. For developers and construction companies, this partnership ensures a stable supply of sustainable concrete.
Thomas Demmel, CEO of Bton Group, expressed his enthusiasm: “We are delighted to partner with Green Valley, a leading biochar company in the UAE. This partnership will benefit the entire construction industry, providing highly sustainable, carbon-negative, and price-competitive concrete elements. Driven by one of the largest real estate developers in the UAE, this collaboration will highlight technology-driven circular solutions in the GCC.”
Tolga Soytekin, co-founder of Green Valley Biochar, added, “This is an exciting and proud new chapter for us. Partnering with Bton Group, which has an impressive track record in Germany, is a significant step for our development. We are thrilled about the benefits Bton's eco-concrete solutions will bring to the Middle East and our net-zero goals. After focusing on landscape, agriculture, and animal husbandry solutions for the past year, moving into industrial applications is a huge development. Setting up additional pyrolysis facilities means more CO2 drawdown and carbon sequestration in the region.”
The partnership will start in the UAE and extend to the entire GCC, especially Saudi Arabia, where Bton plans to set up multiple plants in the coming years.
