Emissions from fossil fuels are the largest contributor to the anthropogenic greenhouse effect, so a reduction in fossil-energy use is a clear priority for the environment. Yet, because some emissions will be unavoidable, a responsible strategy also means actively withdrawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Such carbon sequestration faces multi-faceted challenges: the net withdrawal of carbon dioxide must be long-term and substantial; the process must be accountable; and it must have a low risk of rapid or large-scale leakage. One near-term technology that can meet these requirements is biochar sequestration. When combined with bioenergy production, it is a clean energy technology that reduces emissions as well as sequesters carbon.The E2BEBIS project aims at developing regional energy clusters adopting the biochar technology, and at advancing the related policies through its full legal adoption by competent authorities at the national and the EU level. The transnational Central dimension helps considering the adoption of such technology in context featuring different environmental conditions, different types of biomass, different local administrations. Achievements: The main aim of the Central Europe project “Environmental and Economic Benefits from Biochar clusters in the Central Area” (E2BEBIS)” is to gather key actors related to biochar technology and promote the benefits and the current (mainly legislative) limits of using biochar. The emphasis is put on presenting pyrolysis as an opportunity to explore new sustainable value chains combining waste management and renewable energy production with a Carbon negative balance. Biochar, which can be produced from variety of organic sources, was already proven to improve soil fertility. Though, its full exploitation for commercial purposes is hindered by the lack of biochar-specific legal framework on EU level as well as on national levels. The project started in June 2012 and all the important information can be found on the project website (www.e2bebis.eu). In the first two periods of implementing the project we concentrated on finding a common understanding on biochar cluster,which was essential in order to take any key decisions and identify joint approach.During the third half-year (Jun–Nov 2013) some important shifts in the project activities were done. First of all, we successfully completed the framing of biochar knowledge, where we are summing up the key aspects of biochar and its potential use and which is a crucial activity for succeeding in establishing the biochar energy clusters in the partners countries. This was a result of a good cooperation achieved mainly through three Progress Meetings, where all aspects have been deeply investigated by the project partners. Afterwards the biochar knowledge transfer process to the target groups of the project has successfully started: 2 Open Seminars and one One-to-one meeting were organized,where our target group could find out more about the potential of biochar and related issues. Furthermore two letters of intent aiming at mobilizing investments towards the clusters development were collected. During the third period we also kicked off the preparation of investments for the demonstrative biochar plants, which our project is going to support. The planned output “Comparative study on existing pyrolysis technologies and biochar plants” was achieved.In this study we analyse available technological solutions for biochar plants in order to look for the most appropriate plant and technological solutions for the regions of Central Europe. Study visits to biochar plants are being organized. Project partners decided to concentrate mainly on plants based in EU, since the framework operating conditions of existing plants are different in US or Australia. One of the goals of our project is also to develop a translation strategy on biochar and overcome difficulties regarding its full adoption as a soil amendant. To achieve this we almost finalized one of our main outputs.Draft versions of the country dossiers are available and will be completed during next reporting period.