SRM Award 2025: Sustainable Pathways for Using Wood as an Energy Source
Sustainability, Studies, Award |
Research: Wood Combustion vs. Pyrolysis
At the core of her research is a comparison between conventional wood combustion and so-called slow pyrolysis – a process that produces not only heat but also biochar.
Cummings analyzed the diverse applications of biochar, including its use for long-term CO₂ storage in soils and for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in agriculture.
Findings: Greater Climate Benefits Through Biochar
Her results show that using wood for slow pyrolysis to produce both heat and biochar is a more climate-friendly alternative to conventional combustion.
The potential is particularly significant when biochar is further utilized – for example, as an additive in animal feed to help reduce enteric methane emissions from livestock production.
“Thinking in Systems Rather Than Isolated Solutions”
Mandy Cummings describes her approach to her master’s thesis as follows:
“For me, this research was about looking beyond individual solutions and thinking in systems. What inspired me most was the idea that one process – like producing biochar – can create multiple positive impacts for climate, agriculture, and resource use at the same time.”
Receiving the SRM Award is, as she emphasizes, both a great honor and a strong motivation to continue working on practical solutions for climate protection.
Contributing to Sustainable Systems
Mandy Cummings’ master’s thesis is an example of how scientific research can help shape more sustainable energy and agricultural systems. It highlights the importance of connecting research with real-world impact and of thinking in holistic systems.
About the SRM Award
The Audi Environmental Foundation presents the SRM Award annually to recognize outstanding achievements in the Sustainable Resource Management Master’s program of the TUM School of Life Sciences in Freising. The award was presented to Mandy Cummings during the 2026 Forest Summer Festival organized by the Student Council of Forest Science and Resource Management at the TUM campus in Weihenstephan.