Putting carbon back in the ground where it belongs!

An engineered natural solution to extract carbon from the atmosphere and return it back into the geological reserve for long term storage​

We rewet lowland peat and establish short rotation coppice willow. The biomass is then harvested and fed through pyrolysis to produce biochar and generate renewable energy. We then bury the biochar, locking carbon back in the ground. The high grade heat and power is used to power controlled environment agriculture for more sustainable food production.

We are working with the land to grow sustainable biomass that can generate renewable energy whilst simultaneously locking away carbon from the atmosphere

The Reverse Coal approach puts the land first, transforming a degraded agricultural landscape back to a vibrant fenland environment which would be comparable to a pre-drained landscape here in the midlands.

the Team

Biochar

An engineered solution to sequester carbon

Biochar is a stable, carbon-rich solid produced through the thermochemical conversion of biomass in a low-oxygen environment (pyrolysis). While it is chemically similar to charcoal and shares some structural characteristics with coal, it is derived from recent biomass rather than fossilised carbon.
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Renewable Energy

The recoverable green energy we produce is directed into controlled environment agriculture, which allows for year round food production offering far greater food security.
This pilot is hosted on The Lapwing Estate in the heart of the historic Midlands coal fields and is part of a larger systemic transformation to move towards a sustainable primary agricultural model that produces high quality, healthy food, while simultaneously improving food security and delivering on multiple policy objectives.
The Concept

Policy Objectives

The Reverse Coal approach delivers on a wave of UK government policy objectives, benefitting both people and the environment:
  • Net Zero Strategy
  • Rewetting Peat
  • Biodiversity Net Gain
  • Flood Risk Mitigation
  • Food Strategy
  • Food Security
  • Jobs & Investment
  • Water Purification
Objectives

The Lapwing Estate

Lapwing Energy is the renewable energy division of The Lapwing Estate, exploring how The Estate can make a positive environmental impact without reducing food production from the land.

The Reverse Coal project was part of the DESNZ Direct Air Capture and other Greenhouse Gas Removal technologies competition.

The Estate

What's been happening?

04.02.26

Pollybell Farm and Flogas announce strategic partnership

13.10.25

Reverse Coal Phase 2 Report Live

07.03.25

From 'Reverse Coal' to reviving peat bogs: the push to catch carbon

20.01.25

James Brown joins panel discussing Climate Investment

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Get in touch

Location

Carr Rd,

Gringley on the Hill
Doncaster, DN10 4SN

Our Hours

MON-FRI 09:00 – 17:00

SAT-SUN Closed

Contact Us

Phone : + 44 177 780 70 90

Email : [email protected]