summary of different types of pyrolysis concepts

PAMOJA CLEANTECH AB | [email protected]

PAMOJA Cleantech AB | Villa Bellona | Universitetsvägen 8 | 106 91 Stockholm

PAMOJA CLEANTECH AB

Mobil +49 (0)176 4597 3658

www.pamojacleantech.com

[email protected]

NSR AB 251 89 Helsingborg

Ludvig Landen

Date: 29.01.2018

Summary of Different Types of Pyrolysis Concepts

Pyrolysis is an ancient technology people have used already 10,000 years ago to produce tar. It is a

thermo-chemical process in which biomass or organic matter is treated in an environment with

elevated temperatures from 300 to 650°C with absence of oxygen.

Many process types have been developed throughout the history of this technology. It can mainly be

distinguished between allothermal process, in which heat is applied from outside the reactor, and

autothermal, in which heat is derived from the exothermal process of controlled combustion inside the

reactor.

Autothermal Pyrolysis

Charcoal for cooking or BBQ is generally produced with autothermal charcoal kilns and piles. It is a self-

sustaining process and simple to setup in large scale. The Imbert type reactor is the most common

principle, in which a controlled amount of oxygen is injected into the combustion zone of the reactor,

which enables a controlled combustion of the pyrolysis gases. The combustion provides energy for the

pyrolysis process to turn hydro-carbon molecules into pure carbon.

However the drawback of this process is that exhaust gases and pyrolysis gases are passing the

generated char (carbon) inside the reactor. Tarry gases are entrapped in the porous structure of the

charcoal. When quenched these tarry gases are condensed and bound in the charcoal. The result is

charcoal with high contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH=tar). PAHs are highly toxic

and carcinogenic and are absorbed by plants and animals. This charcoal can then only be used as a

fuel.

The temperature in an autothermal process is also not easy to control and it is therefore not a good

choice for production of high quality biochar, as the characteristics of biochar are influenced by the

process temperature.

Allothermal Pyrolysis

Modern type of pyrolysis with a focus on biochar production is mainly applying the allothermal

pyrolysis process, in which the reactor is enclosed from the ambient and heat is applied from outside.


The pyrolysis gases containing the PAHs are drawn from the reactor without passing all the way

through the biochar produced. This way high quality biochar can be produced. The gases contain about

3 times the required energy for the endothermal process of pyrolysis. Thus, heat from the external

combustion of pyrolysis gases are commonly used to sustain the pyrolysis process.

The challenge in the allothermal process, however, is to scale up the system. Heat needs to pass

through the reactor wall into the biomass inside the reactor. The size of the pyrolysis system matters

in order to make it economically feasible to operate. If the reactor diameter is increased the volume of

the reactor grows by , whereas the surface of the reactor shell only grows by . Thus, the technical

principle needs to provide a solution at scale in which sufficient heat can be applied to the biomass so

that the pyrolysis process is stable. Most of the commonly known problems in pyrolysis are caused by

the technical miss-management of this dilemma.

Selection Process

In Circular Carbon we have started with screening ca. 300 manufacturers of pyrolysis systems (a

preselected list is attached as Appendix II) around the world. Two filters were applied to narrow the

list of suppliers down to a selected choice of suppliers of only hand full:

1. Scale of System(s): Possibility to turn 10,000 tons of biomass per annum into biochar with one

or several units

2. Reference of installed systems: The manufacturer would need to have a minimum of 5

references in the field of pyrolysis. We ignored manufacturers in pilot or demonstration stage.

Applying these two filters, we have identified manufacturers with four different technical principles.

Another one is listed, because it is another very promising principle:

Principle Manufacturers

1 Batch Kiln reactor Clean Fuels, Netherlands (site visit done)

2 Reactor with internal auger Pyreg, Germany (site visit done), new concept P500 requires talk

to new owner in Sweden

3 Rotary Kiln reactor Pyrocal CCT, Australia

4 Reactor with internally

heated spiral or auger

A - ETIA Biogreen, France (site visit done), Joule Effect

B - Noireco, Finland, Induction (further study required)

5 Moving Bed Reactor (EcoRemedy Inc., USA, not many references yet)


1. Batch Kiln Reactor - Clean Fuels (Netherlands)

System Parameters – Clean Fuels b.v.

Capacity

Biomass throughput 500 kg/h (wood, 35% MC)

Biochar output 200 kg/h (5% MC)/ 1,600 t/a (at 8,000 hrs)

Heat/ Pyrolysis gas 700 kW

Pyro-Oil 150 kW

Auxiliaries 10 kWel (estimate)

Size 500 m² roofed, height 7 m

Particle sizes required Logs, briquettes (maybe pellets or woodchips to be tested)

Nr. of references 10 to 100 systems

Indicative CAPEX 600,000.00 € (economies of scale due to modularity)

The batch kiln reactor has been proven in many installations around the world. We have done site

visits once to the Netherlands to look at the operational process and to discuss potential integration of

the system. The biomass inside the reactor kiln is heated with hot pyrolysis gas that is maintained at

400 to 700°C and fed directly into the kiln. The system is semi automated with two kilns. There is

always one kiln in operation to produce the required pyrolysis gas for the initial endothermal heating

phase of the newly loaded kiln. The kilns are loaded and off-loaded with an overhead crane. The

biochar is slowly cooled in the kiln before packaged.

Picture 1: Process flow of Cleanfuels Retort System


Picture 2: Direct contact with inert and cleaned hot pyrolysis gas enables an efficient and homogeneous heating process. The heat exchanger for heating pyrolysis gas allows accurate temperature settings. PAHs are condensed before the gas is

recycled.

Picture 3: Pictures show how simple pyrolysis can be. Brick walls are cheap and provide a high heating capacity so that the heating up of the new retort kiln happens quickly with radiation.

Mr. Simons, who is the founder of Cleanfuels, has installed several systems of an earlier version all

around the world mainly for BBQ charcoal production. The biomass in the earlier system has not been

heated in direct contact with the pyrolysis gases.


The system from Mr. Siemons, however, has been copied by a company called Polytechnik GmbH from

Austria. The company has installed such a system in Uelitz, Schleswig-Holstein in Germany for the

company Green Carbon, which has successfully been operated since 2015. The system offers also the

best biochar quality on the market in Germany. This installation shows that the batch-concept works in

a commercial operation and can be scaled to a very attractive scale.

Picture 4: Process flow of the Polytechnik system.


Picture 5: Older concept of Cleanfuels installed and operated in Uelitz in Schleswig-Holstein in Germany.


Strengths Opportunities

High control of temperature Chipping process could be avoided can be fed with larger particles

Efficient heating process Additional drying process is not required

Low risk of PAH Charcoal can also be used for BBQ market without a need of further drying

Low energy requirements System is modular and can be scaled up any time with little adaptations

Simple and robust system, highly reliable

Lots of references with an older version

Weaknesses Threats

Long cooling periods of a few days large area required

Uneven heat distribution inside reactor, when smaller particles are fed Smaller particles, such as chips or pellets, need to be tested in system first

Full automation is not possible higher labour cost

Not a well organized company with only one key person (“one man show”)

Large roofed area required with overhead crane Bankability of company could be low

Pyro-oil could be an unloved by-product, however a pyro-oil burner is part of the concept

Source: https://app.box.com/s/2xjbdxl45gcszivr9mge1p2vzhn3rlum


2. Reactor with Internal Auger - PYREG GmbH (Germany)

System Parameters – PYREG P1.500

Capacity

Biomass throughput 560 kg/h (wood, 12% MC)

Biochar output 120 kg/h (0% MC) eq. 25% 900 t/a (at 7,500 hrs)


Pyro-Oil no

Auxiliaries Ca. 20 kWel Quenching water

Size P1.500 l:

12 x w:3 x h: 5.8 m Technical System:

l: 6 x w: 3 x h: 5.8 m

Particle sizes required Woodchips, pellets, husk, nut shells

Nr. of references 2 systems (ca. 30 of P500)

Indicative CAPEX 1,000,000.00 €

One of the most renowned manufacturers of pyrolysis systems is applying the internal auger screw

principle. The company PYREG is well financed by SKION, the investment company of Susanne Klatten

(owner of BMW). A new system has been developed with higher capacity as the earlier P500. The P500

is widely deployed in Germany and Europe (ca. 30 systems). The pyrolysis gas generated in the P500 is

combusted in a flox-burner, which caused problems.

The new system uses a biomass combustion chamber of Viessmann lined with fire bricks. This new

chamber can also be provided with an integrated heat recovery boiler (optional). The exhaust gas (ca.

1400° C) of the chamber is recirculated through the outer chamber of a double-walled reactor. In

order to allow sufficient heat to penetrate into the reactor the system is build with two reactors. The

exhaust gas is not in direct contact with the biochar/ biomass inside the reactor. A new gas filter has

been developed for the new system to allow cleaner combustion.

The system is pre-installed in a “plug-and-play” container, which reduces the complexity of installation

on site.


Picture 6: The earlier P500 unit of PYREG with the flox burner in front and the black horizontal reactors in the middle.

Picture 7: New setup of the P1.500 system. The system is fully integrated in preinstalled containers and is delivered as a “plug-and-play” solution.


Picture 8: Process flow of the earlier P500 system. The new system P1.500 further comprises a gas filtration system and a Viessman biomass combustion chamber.

The system can operate reliably when staff is well trained. Feedstock preparation is crucial for a

reliable performance.

The new system provides much better economics than the earlier P500, thus the P1.500 should be

reconsidered for the project.



Many systems in operation not many teething problems expected

Another P1.500 is already installed in Sweden, which may be a benefit for service & maintenance

Compact and modular Additional systems can be added later

Plug-and-play eases installation, not many interfaces PAMOJA staff is well connected with PYREG operator companies and also gathered lots of experience with the operational problems, which can occur with a PYREG system.

Low energy requirements

High bankability

Lots of references with P500 version

Biochar quality accepted in the market

Fully automated and remote controlled

Weaknesses Threats

Local hotspots on the reactor wall can cause clinkers, especially when bark is part of the feedstock

Clinkers need to be cleaned from reactor wall to avoid reactor wall oxidization

Bark or leaves in the feedstock can cause clinkers in reactor

Moving parts (auger, bearings) in hot environment cause wear, tear and fatigue of steel

High service requirement to maintain performance cleaning reactor once a week can be required if feedstock is not accurately managed

No controlled temperature in the biomass inside the reactor design of biochar characteristics and

functionality difficult

Back-coupling effect when heat generation and pyrolysis process is closely linked higher moisture

content in the feedstock could lead to sudden drop of heat and gas quality, which can hardly be buffered by

the heat source

Biomass is not evenly cooling top and bottom of the reactor material stress

Accurate management of feedstock (moisture, particle size, fines, type) is important to allow high

quality production Pre-drying, sorting and sieving required

Relatively high CAPEX


1. Rotary kiln reactor – Pyrocal, Australia

The rotary kiln reactor type is one of the most promising. It solves the problems of the reactor with

internal auger. The rotary kiln is heated inside a combustion chamber and is rotated outside the

chamber. Thus, there are no moving parts inside a hot environment, but the biomass is moved with

the internal fins and gravity. It also provides a higher flexibility in terms of feedstock particle sizes. The

entire shell of the rotary kiln is used to induce heat into the biomass as it revolves. Gases can be

extracted at the reactor inlet. The system can be scaled easier and the concept is proven in many other

heat treatment applications.

We have investigated one manufacturer in greater detail with a visit to their company, Standard Bio, in

Norway. However, we are not further describing their system here, as a first pilot is still to be built.

Naturally, one can expect a longer period to fix all teething problems and to establish control software

for the operation. We are in close contact with the manufacturer to follow their development.

Another very promising company offering a rotary kiln system is Pyrocal (former Black is Green). The

company has started 2009 to develop an innovative, but simple concept of pyrolysis ovens. About 8

systems have been implemented commercially since 2014.

System Parameters – Pyrocal Dual CCT 18

Capacity

Biomass throughput 1.3 t/h (wood, ? MC)

Biochar output 25% on dry mass (wood)


Pyro-Oil no

Auxiliaries 20 kWel (estimate) Quenching water 45 l Diesel for light-up

Size Rotary Drum Kiln:

40ft High Cube Container CCT, secondary pyrolysis:

20ft High Cube Container


Nr. of references Ca. 8 systems of CCT system


The system concept is a combination of a horizontal rotary kiln for drying and for a first stage pyrolysis

(torrefaction) and a second unit with a vertical rotary disc kiln, which can be described as a pizza oven

with several rotary discs above eachother. Pyrocal calls it Multiple Hearth Gasifier.


Picture 9: Demonstration unit installed at manufacturer site for premium BBQ briquettes production from nut shells.

Picture 10: Dual CCT 18; Installations can be customized to a great degree, but Pyrocal is also offering plug&play solutions ready installed in shipping containers.

The picture above shows the Dual CCT 18 a rotary drum drying and torrefying unit in a 40ft container

next to the 20ft container, which houses two CCT units for biochar production and combustion of

pyrolysis gases. The gases are directly combusted in the reactor and then passed through the multiple


hearth reactor (CCT).The exhaust gases further pass through the rotary drum unit and into the heat

recovery steam boiler.

Picture 11: This picture shows and example of the rotary drum unit and doesn’t represent the exact setup. The rotary drum dryer and torrefier is heated with exhaust gases from the CCT unit.

Picture 12: Torrefied biomass is loaded at top left and converted into biochar by passing over the multiple discs to the bottom. Ambient air is fed at each stage to combust the pyrolysis gases.


Picture 13: Current project in installation. Pyrocal has reached a large scale installation level with this project.

Picture 14: New project site top view



Robust and reliable principle Most promising concept applied

First installation in Europe

Compact and modular Additional systems can be added later

Plug-and-play eases installation, not many interfaces Sales Representative for Europe

2-stage principle allows high control of biochar process and quality

Low energy requirements

High bankability

Wide variety of particle sizes can be used

No drying required


Low CAPEX (all in)

Weaknesses Threats

Biomass with low ash melting temperatures form clinkers in the CCT reactor

Time difference to Australia Difficult communication and service offers

Moving parts (auger, bearings) in hot environment in CCT cause wear, tear and fatigue of steel

Spare parts need to come from Australia; distance can be a challange

Fast-Pyrolysis in CCT allows less control of temperature in the biomass inside the reactor design of biochar characteristics and functionality

difficult

Exhaust gases in CCT reactor can potentially affect biochar quality


2. Reactor with internal spiral (France - Biogreen)

The concept of a reactor with an internally heated spiral or auger has been derived from roasting

processing, where the setup is state of the art.

System Parameters – BGR 750L8

Capacity

Biomass throughput 0,7 t/h (woodchips, <10% MC)

Biochar output 30% on dry mass (wood)

Heat/ Pyrolysis gas 1.200 kW

Pyro-Oil yes

Auxiliaries 450 kWel (estimate) Quenching water

Size Reactor:

40+ft High Cube Container Quenching, Oxidazation:

2x40ft High Cube Container Overall Footprint:

14.3 x 8.1 m


Nr. of references Ca. 40 systems


ETIA or Biogreen has developed roasting systems for the food industry since 1983. The pyrolysis

system for biochar production is based on the same principle that has been applied for the

roasting process. An inner lying spiral is electrically heated using the joules effect.

Power is transformed to low voltage and sent through the spiral so the electric resistance of steel

is heating the spiral. A spiral is like an auger without the shaft. This makes the spiral very flexible

like a spring and it also avoids shear forces, which would increase fatigue in the material. The

heated spiral is in direct contact with the biomass and thus allows accurate adjustment of the

temperature, which is very important for the design of biochar functionalities.

The heat influx with the spiral is much higher than by using a heated reactor shell to supply heat to

the biomass. Furthermore, the reactor is insulated with firebricks and thus has a very high heat

storage capacity, which allows operations at more stable temperature conditions.

The pyrolysis process is disconnected from the heat generation. This makes the system very simple

and reliable.

The pyrolysis gas is fully used for other applications, such as steam generations.

The pyrolysis system of Biogreen has been installed in about 40 installations around the world.


Biogreen is providing a guarantee of the performance of their system based on the results of a test

in their lab unit.

Picture 15: BGR600 x3 installed in Indonesia using tobacco residues as feedstock for biochar production. The system was installed in 2012 and represents the largest installation of Biogreen.

Picture 16: The pictures shows the heated spiral.


Picture 17: The drawings above show the proposed installation for NSR. The containerized system requires only a roof cover for staff on site.



Robust and reliable principle Unit could be integrated into a Virtual Power Plant as a deferrable load

Compact and modular Containerized system reduces the need for housing

Plug-and-play eases installation

High control of temperature and thus biochar quality

Fire brick insulation

High bankability


Heating disconnected from process

Guaranteed performance

Most references in the field

Weaknesses Threats

Drying of feedstock crucial Dependency on power price

High power demand Cost competitiveness of biochar reduced, when other systems are established, which can successfully make use of the heat from the biomass


Scoring

The scoring is performed by valuing certain criteria high, if it applies, or low, if it doesn’t apply. Certain

criteria have been used to evaluate the systems and suppliers. The evaluation and criteria is attached

to the appendix.

Picture 18: Example of the ranking figure.

In this evaluation the different criteria have not been weighted. However, as commercial pyrolysis

technology and biochar production is still in its infancy, the criteria shall be prioritized in the following

order:

1. “Reliability” – is the most important criteria for a sustainable and long lasting operation of the

system installed. Downtime due to failures of the system threatens the project the most and it

has the highest influence on the economics of the project.

2. “OPEX” – A safety net for the business is the BBQ charcoal market, which can always intake all

biochar produced. There are currently many actors on the market developing biochar

production projects, which could lead to a sudden price drop of biochar. Therfore, it is

important to have a cost effective production of biochar to allow sales into the BBQ charcoal

market and long lasting competitiveness.

3. “Product Quality” – The product quality is defined by the principle applied and the process

parameters of the operation. The system needs to allow accurate settings of these process

0

10

20

30

40

50 Reliability

CAPEX

OPEX Product Quality

Company

Solution Scoring Cleanfuels Pyreg Pyrocal Biogreen


parameters. The temperature, for instance, has a decisive influence on the characteristics of

the biochar. An effective biochar product requires consistent and defined biochar

characteristics.

4. “Company” – includes robustness of the company and number of references of the system

installed. It is an indicator about the success of the developed system.

5. “CAPEX” – The investment cost only have a limited influence on the economics of the project

and can therefore be seen as least important.

As it can be expect that biochar products and applications become more advanced over the next years,

we believe that the product quality is more important than product cost over the long run. It will be

absolutely critical to be able to adjust the characteristics of the biochar.

Nevertheless, the biochar produced needs to be competitive in price first of all. Especially in the first

years of operation the biochar product is mainly sold as a raw product without further refining steps.

The major challenge in this project is that heat generated has not a real economic value. Thus, the

revenue of the project builds almost fully on the sales of biochar. Furthermore, the feedstock used for

the project, even though it is freely available, has a market value of 40€/t dry.

Therefore, production cost or product prices are even more sensitive than the ability to produce a very

high quality of biochar.

Recommendations BIOGREEN:

Biogreen offers the most reliable and trust worthy operations with lots of references and experience.

The process enables a production of a high quality product. The big downside is the need for power as

a heating source, which adds a high cost of about 200 to 300 €/t on the end product. The risk of

increasing power cost, however, could be mitigated with integrated power generation by using the

syngas as a source for power generation in a steam turbine or an ORC system. The waste heat from the

power generation can still be used for drying and for heating the water pond.

Thus, our recommendation is to see Biogreen as a backstop option that promises high reliability and

scalebility.

Next steps for the concept development should be:

1. Improving Business Case to real conditions

2. Detailed Q&A, to have sufficient information about the system

3. Design concept with dryer, heat exchanger, (power generation,) packaging of biochar

4. Lab test to get the energy balance and performance of proposed operations

CLEANFUELS:

Our recommendation is to focus on the Cleanfuels system, which could be the most suitable system

for this project. It offers a very simple and robust concept combined with operational advantages, as it

does not require the operation of a dryer or the use of power for heating.

The following next steps are required to further judge this solution:


1. Business Case Calculations

2. Q&A

3. A test with wood chips on site in the Netherlands

4. A site visit in Uelitz, Germany to understand potential challenges with such an operation

5. A site visit in South Africa at the new installed systems. As PAMOJA is operating in

Mozambique, such a visit could be done with little extra cost.

6. A credit check on the company to better understand solidity and operations

PYREG:

Pyreg’s new system should further be studied and the commissioning of the system in Skane should be

followed. The new system has an appropriate size for commercial production of biochar. We would

recommend interviewing an engineer from Pyreg with a prepared Q&A sheet to understand how

problems with the P500 have been solved in the new system.

There are a number of interesting companies coming up, which have interesting concepts, such as

Pyrocal, Standard Bio and Noireco. We will further follow the development of these companies.

All these tasks can be done until April this year.


APPENDIX I – Scoring Table comparing the different systems

The scoring is a qualitative study of the different criteria. Thus, it is a subjective opinion based on the

understanding of the technology/ criteria and interviews held with the suppliers.

22.01.2019 Felix Ertl [email protected]

Company Country Website Sold Systems

Worth

to study

more in

depth Comment

3R Environmental

Technology Group Sweden http://www.3ragrocarbon.com yes

unfortunately not much info, but worth to visit

some reference installations

Abri-Tech Inc. Canada http://www.advbiorefineryinc.ca/ no early stage

adam + partner Ethiopia www.biocoal.org no brick made assembly, famous retort

Adsorb Technologies South Africa www.adsorb.co.za no use batch type from Simons

Advanced Renewable

Technology International

Inc. United States www.artichar.com yes

produce own small scale system, no info on

website, selling biochar for 500USD/m³

Advanced Resilient

Technology Limited United Kingdom www.art.co.im no no info on website

Aemerge United States http://aemerge.com/ no heavy…

AgFuel Energy Systems

LLC United States www.agfuel.com no down

Agri-Tech Producers LLC

(ATP) United States

http://www.agritechproducers.com/defa

ult.html no no system

Agri-Therm Canada http://agri-therm.com/ no down

Airex Energy Canada http://www.airex-energy.com/en/ <5 yes Looks very interesting. Definitely some USPs

ALL Power Labs United States

http://www.allpowerlabs.com/products/

product-overview no stupid

Amaron Energy United States

http://www.amaronenergy.com/Amaron

_Energy/Amaron_Energy.html no no info on website

Technical Market Assessment of Pyrolysis Systems

mailto:[email protected]

http://aemerge.com/

Admin

Schreibmaschine

APPENDIX II -

American Combustion

Technologies United States www.american-combustion.com no down

Aparem Bioenergia Brazil http://aperambioenergia.com.br/en/ no

use own technology to produce huge amounts of

biochar from eucalypthus trees

Applied Gaia United States www.appliedgaia.com yes

developing own system in Australia with Stephen

Joseph

ArcelorMittal Bioflorestas Brazil http://bioflorestas.arcelormittal.com/ no

Areva/Thermya France http://www.areva.com/ yes nothing found yet

AVA-CO2 Switzerland

http://www.avaco2.com/web/pages/en/

home.php Thomas Klausli no down

Avello Bioenergy United States http://www.avellobioenergy.com/ no operate own system

Bambusa Global Ventures Cambodia http://www.bambusaglobal.com/ no produce bamboo products and bamboo biochar

Bazman Rumbler Australia

http://www.biochar.net/bazmanrumbler/ no Kontiki type biochar kiln

Biochar Industries Australia http://biocharindustries.com no brick made systems

Biochar Works United States http://www.biocharworks.com/ no no own system

BioForceTech United States www.bioforcetech.com no uses Pyreg System

BIOMACON GmbH Germany www.BIOMACON.com >10<100 no too small, farm level

Biomass Controls, LLC United States www.biomasscontrols.com no small scale operation

BIOUHEL.CZ s.r.o. Czech RepubliC http://www.biouhel.cz no no system

Bioware Brazil http://www.bioware.com.br/ >10<100 no

Blue Sky Biochar United States www.blueskybiochar.com no no system available

Border Partners United States www.borderpartners.org no village programs

Carbon Compost

Company United Kingdom www.carboncompost.co.uk no Exeter pyrolysis

Carbon Cultures United States

https://www.facebook.com/CarbonCultur

es/ no

Carbon Gold United Kingdom www.carbongold.com no no own products

Carbon Queen Switzerland http://www.carbonqueen.ch no grill for making biochar

http://www.biocharworks.com/

http://www.bioforcetech.com/

http://www.biomasscontrols.com/

http://www.biouhel.cz/

Carbon Terra GmbH Germany http://www.carbon-terra.eu/en/ no no ready product yet

CarbonZero Switzerland http://biochar.info no no ready product yet

Carolina Clean Energy LLC United States http://carolinacleanenergyllc.com no offline

Chaotech Pty Ltd Australia www.chaotech.com.au no research and development stage

Charman Australia www.charman.com.au no no info on pyrolysis unit

Chip Energy Inc. United States www.chipenergy.com no no reference no product on website

Clean Fuels b.v. Netherlands http://www.cleanfuels.nl/index.htm <10 yes Site visit done. Systems sold to South Africa

CoalTec Energy USA United States www.coaltecenergy.com no

Community Power

Corporation United States www.gocpc.com no Pamoja was in touch already

Cummins Cogeneration

Kenya Limited (CCKL) Kenya www.cummins-power-kenya.com no no longer online

Dehong CHON Pyrolysate

INC China

http://www.pyrolysate.com/about/?113.

html no no longer online

Diacarbon Energy Inc. Canada www.diacarbon.com no no longer online

Earth Systems Australia www.earthsystems.com.au no

Ecoremedy Energy

Technologies, Inc. United States www.ecoremedyenergy.com >5<20 yes

Bed concept, interesting references installed,

request more details!

Ecoreps Australia www.ecoreps.com.au no

EcoZoom United States http://ecozoomstove.com/index.php no Cooking Stove

Energy Farmers Australia Australia www.energyfarmers.com.au no

Environmental Power

International United Kingdom http://www.epienergy.com/ no

Environmental Value

Solutions United Kingdom

https://plus.google.com/1005598300087

61732752/about no

Eprida United States

http://www.eprida.com/invest/index.php

4 no

EPWT VietNam http://www.esrla.com/ no cooking stove producing biochar

ETIA France www.biogreen-energy.com >10<100 yes choice for HH

http://www.carbon-terra.eu/en/

http://www.chaotech.com.au/

http://www.coaltecenergy.com/

Exeterra, LLC United States www.exeterrallc.com >10<100 no funny guys

FLUID Company Ltd Poland http://fluid.pl/en/ <5 yes

started in 2011 with first commercial unit in

Poland. Focus on BBQ charcoal. Torrefication

rather than pyrolysis

Four Seasons Fuel LTD United Kingdom www.fourseasonsfuel.com no selling charcoal

Frontline Bioenergy LLC United States http://www.frontlinebioenergy.com no

G2E, S.A.P.I. de C.V. Mexico www.g2e.mx no concept stage

GAMATEC SA Switzerland www.gamatec.ch

Startup working together with the city of

Amsterdam

Global Gateways Luxembourg http://www.globalgateways.eu/ no

Green Charcoal

International (GCI) France http://www.green-charcoal.net/ <10 yes Early stage development, but interesting concept

Heat Systems Australia http://heatsystems.com.au/ >5<20 yes

Could adopt a plant needed for the application,

need to get in touch

ICM, Inc United States www.icminc.com <10 yes

Interra Energy, Inc. United States www.interraenergy.us yes First pilot installed, Recomended by Adam O Tole

Ithaka Institute Switzerland http://www.ithaka-institut.org/de

Iwamoto Inc. Japan http://superstoneclean.com/

Juntos Energy

Corporation United States www.woodgas.com

KANSAI corporaton Japan

http://www.kansai-

sangyo.co.jp/eindex.html

Automated Rice Husk Carbonizer (ARHC) hsa

good references

Karr Group of Companies United States www.karrgroupco.com

Kaskad-E GmbH Switzerland www.kaskad-e.ch

Klean Industries Canada

http://www.kleanindustries.com/s/Home

.asp Jesse Klinkhamer

Lambiotte & Cie, S.A. Belgium

http://www.lambiotte.com/Solvent_from

_carbonization_our_acetals_-

page.htm?use=62

LEI Products United States www.leiprod.com

http://www.gamatec.ch/

http://www.kansai-sangyo.co.jp/eindex.html


Mississippi Water

International (China) Co. China http://www.mississippiwater.com.cn

Moki Manufacturing Japan http://moki-ss.co.jp/

Nanjing Qinfeng Straw

Technology Co. Ltd China http://njqfjg.com

Nettenergy BV Netherlands www.nettenergy.com

Nextchar LLC United States

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/steveroge

rs/A/740/277 Hugh McLaughlin no early stage kiln developer

Night Bright Engineering

Ltd New Zealand http://www.nightbright.co.nz no manufacturer for any kind of steel products

Norris Thermal

Technologies Inc. United States www.norristhermal.com yes investor of Biogreen and other heating systems

Novotera Canada www.planetstove.com no

Organic Power Solutions United States

http://www.organicpowersolutions.com/

technology.html no

Pacific Pyrolysis Australia http://pacificpyrolysis.com/agrichar.html <10 no

Pakistan Biochar Initiative Pakistan www.pakistanbiochar.com no

Peako Biomass Energy Hong Kong http://www.peako.net/index.php no too big gasifiers

Phoenix Energy United States http://www.phoenixenergy.net/ no wrong promises

Piroeco Bioenergy S.L. Spain http://www.piroeco.com/index.html yes very big producer of biochar

Pressvess United Kingdom http://www.pressvess.co.uk no

PRM Energy Systems, Inc. United States http://www.prmenergy.com >10<100 no focus on large stationary gasifiers

Profikomp Environmental

Technology Plc. Hungary http://www.profikomp.hu/index.php no

providing composting cover and monitoring

system

Proton Power United States www.protonpower.com <5 yes

seems to be dead. No current news. Focus on

syngas

http://www.phoenixenergy.net/

PYREG GmbH Germany http://www.pyreg.de/ >20 yes

new larger unit P1.500 available, ask for quote

and spec sheet, site visit in Sweden

Pyrocal (formerly Black is

Green) Australia www.pyrocal.com.au >5<20 yes

see Big Char CCT, should get in touch to get a

quote and spec sheet with details

Pyrolyzer, LLC United States http://www.pyrolyzer.net/Default.aspx yes not much info on website about technology

Pyrovac Inc. Canada none no

RA Biochar Thailand http://www.rabiochar.com/home.html no

rainbow bee eater Australia http://rainbowbeeeater.com.au yes very early stage, no system seen

Revatec Germany http://www.revatec.de/terracoal.htm no HTC

SERVALS India www.servals.in no

Shangqiu Haiqi Machinery

Equipment Co., Ltd. China http://haiqimachine.en.alibaba.com/ yes

to be followed in future, especially with a sight on

the Chinese market

Shanxi Supply and

Marketing Cooperative China www.sxsmcoop.com no

Showa Kikaki Co.,Ltd. Japan

http://www.showakikaku.co.jp/esumi10ji

.html no

Solworth Thailand none no

Stardust Earth New Zealand none no

sunwest bioenergy United States http://sunwestbioenergy no

Susteen Technologies

GmbH Germany www.susteen-tech.com <5 yes Fraunhofer Umsicht part of development

Terra Humana Ltd. Hungary http://www.3Ragrocarbon.com

Terralogix Group LLC United States http://www.terralogix.net/biochar no

Terra-Preta

Developments Australia http://frankstrie.blogspot.com/ no

Thermal Company

Limited Japan

http://www.ethermal.co.jp/English/Hom

ePage/1aCspec.htm no

TONGLI Machinery China

http://www.cncharcoalmachine.com/Pro

duct/#.VIe0QskhOQctonglimachine5@cnc

harcoalmachine.com no

V-Grid Energy Systems United States http://vgridenergy.com/ no

VUTHISA South Africa http://www.vuthisa.com no

http://rainbowbeeeater.com.au/

http://www.revatec.de/terracoal.htm

http://haiqimachine.en.alibaba.com/

http://www.sxsmcoop.com/

http://www.showakikaku.co.jp/esumi10ji.html


http://www.terralogix.net/biochar

http://frankstrie.blogspot.com/

http://www.ethermal.co.jp/English/HomePage/1aCspec.htm


http://www.cncharcoalmachine.com/Product/



Western Renewable

Technologies United States http://www.wrtpyrolysis.com/index.html no

Woodstock Sustainable

Farms United States

http://www.wssfarms.com/products/mir

acle-biochar-fertilizer/ no

WorldStove Italy www.worldstove.com no

ZeroPoint Clean Tech United States

http://www.zeropointcleantech.com/bioc

har no

Zhengzhou Kehua

Industrial Equipment Co.,

Ltd. China http://zzkhdq.en.alibaba.com/ no

Zhengzhou Shuliy

Machinery Co., Ltd. China http://www.shuliy.cn/ no

Choren Industrietechnik

GmbH Germany http://www.choren.com Can be adopted to Biochar and Heat generation

Ensyn Technologies Inc. Canada www.ensyn.com

Refgas Ltd United Kingdom https://www.refgas-uk.com/contact/ no

CharGrow LLC United States http://www.carbonchar.com no

Advanced in marketing biochar, currently

developing a pyrolysis unit

Noireco Finland https://noireco.fi/en <5 yes customer SSAB and StoraEnso

CarbonZero Switzerland

Standard Bio Norway www.standard.bio no about to install first pilot unit

PolyTechnik Austria https://biomass.polytechnik.com/ <5 no

Largest installation of biochar production in

Germany: GreenCarbon

http://www.wrtpyrolysis.com/index.html

http://www.ensyn.com/

http://www.standard.bio/

22.01.2019 Felix Ertl [email protected]

Company Country Website Sold Systems

Worth

to study

more in

depth Comment

3R Environmental

Technology Group Sweden http://www.3ragrocarbon.com yes

unfortunately not much info, but worth to visit

some reference installations

Abri-Tech Inc. Canada http://www.advbiorefineryinc.ca/ no early stage

adam + partner Ethiopia www.biocoal.org no brick made assembly, famous retort

Adsorb Technologies South Africa www.adsorb.co.za no use batch type from Simons

Advanced Renewable

Technology International

Inc. United States www.artichar.com yes

produce own small scale system, no info on

website, selling biochar for 500USD/m³

Advanced Resilient

Technology Limited United Kingdom www.art.co.im no no info on website

Aemerge United States http://aemerge.com/ no heavy…

AgFuel Energy Systems

LLC United States www.agfuel.com no down

Agri-Tech Producers LLC

(ATP) United States

http://www.agritechproducers.com/defa

ult.html no no system

Agri-Therm Canada http://agri-therm.com/ no down

Airex Energy Canada http://www.airex-energy.com/en/ <5 yes Looks very interesting. Definitely some USPs

ALL Power Labs United States

http://www.allpowerlabs.com/products/

product-overview no stupid

Amaron Energy United States

http://www.amaronenergy.com/Amaron

_Energy/Amaron_Energy.html no no info on website

Technical Market Assessment of Pyrolysis Systems

mailto:[email protected]

http://aemerge.com/

American Combustion

Technologies United States www.american-combustion.com no down

Aparem Bioenergia Brazil http://aperambioenergia.com.br/en/ no

use own technology to produce huge amounts of

biochar from eucalypthus trees

Applied Gaia United States www.appliedgaia.com yes

developing own system in Australia with Stephen

Joseph

ArcelorMittal Bioflorestas Brazil http://bioflorestas.arcelormittal.com/ no

Areva/Thermya France http://www.areva.com/ yes nothing found yet

AVA-CO2 Switzerland

http://www.avaco2.com/web/pages/en/

home.php Thomas Klausli no down

Avello Bioenergy United States http://www.avellobioenergy.com/ no operate own system

Bambusa Global Ventures Cambodia http://www.bambusaglobal.com/ no produce bamboo products and bamboo biochar

Bazman Rumbler Australia

http://www.biochar.net/bazmanrumbler/ no Kontiki type biochar kiln

Biochar Industries Australia http://biocharindustries.com no brick made systems

Biochar Works United States http://www.biocharworks.com/ no no own system

BioForceTech United States www.bioforcetech.com no uses Pyreg System

BIOMACON GmbH Germany www.BIOMACON.com >10<100 no too small, farm level

Biomass Controls, LLC United States www.biomasscontrols.com no small scale operation

BIOUHEL.CZ s.r.o. Czech RepubliC http://www.biouhel.cz no no system

Bioware Brazil http://www.bioware.com.br/ >10<100 no

Blue Sky Biochar United States www.blueskybiochar.com no no system available

Border Partners United States www.borderpartners.org no village programs

Carbon Compost

Company United Kingdom www.carboncompost.co.uk no Exeter pyrolysis

Carbon Cultures United States

https://www.facebook.com/CarbonCultur

es/ no

Carbon Gold United Kingdom www.carbongold.com no no own products

Carbon Queen Switzerland http://www.carbonqueen.ch no grill for making biochar

http://www.biocharworks.com/

http://www.bioforcetech.com/

http://www.biomasscontrols.com/

http://www.biouhel.cz/

Carbon Terra GmbH Germany http://www.carbon-terra.eu/en/ no no ready product yet

CarbonZero Switzerland http://biochar.info no no ready product yet

Carolina Clean Energy LLC United States http://carolinacleanenergyllc.com no offline

Chaotech Pty Ltd Australia www.chaotech.com.au no research and development stage

Charman Australia www.charman.com.au no no info on pyrolysis unit

Chip Energy Inc. United States www.chipenergy.com no no reference no product on website

Clean Fuels b.v. Netherlands http://www.cleanfuels.nl/index.htm <10 yes Site visit done. Systems sold to South Africa

CoalTec Energy USA United States www.coaltecenergy.com no

Community Power

Corporation United States www.gocpc.com no Pamoja was in touch already

Cummins Cogeneration

Kenya Limited (CCKL) Kenya www.cummins-power-kenya.com no no longer online

Dehong CHON Pyrolysate

INC China

http://www.pyrolysate.com/about/?113.

html no no longer online

Diacarbon Energy Inc. Canada www.diacarbon.com no no longer online

Earth Systems Australia www.earthsystems.com.au no

Ecoremedy Energy

Technologies, Inc. United States www.ecoremedyenergy.com >5<20 yes

Bed concept, interesting references installed,

request more details!

Ecoreps Australia www.ecoreps.com.au no

EcoZoom United States http://ecozoomstove.com/index.php no Cooking Stove

Energy Farmers Australia Australia www.energyfarmers.com.au no

Environmental Power

International United Kingdom http://www.epienergy.com/ no

Environmental Value

Solutions United Kingdom

https://plus.google.com/1005598300087

61732752/about no

Eprida United States

http://www.eprida.com/invest/index.php

4 no

EPWT VietNam http://www.esrla.com/ no cooking stove producing biochar

ETIA France www.biogreen-energy.com >10<100 yes choice for HH

http://www.carbon-terra.eu/en/

http://www.chaotech.com.au/

http://www.coaltecenergy.com/

Exeterra, LLC United States www.exeterrallc.com >10<100 no funny guys

FLUID Company Ltd Poland http://fluid.pl/en/ <5 yes

started in 2011 with first commercial unit in

Poland. Focus on BBQ charcoal. Torrefication

rather than pyrolysis

Four Seasons Fuel LTD United Kingdom www.fourseasonsfuel.com no selling charcoal

Frontline Bioenergy LLC United States http://www.frontlinebioenergy.com no

G2E, S.A.P.I. de C.V. Mexico www.g2e.mx no concept stage

GAMATEC SA Switzerland www.gamatec.ch

Startup working together with the city of

Amsterdam

Global Gateways Luxembourg http://www.globalgateways.eu/ no

Green Charcoal

International (GCI) France http://www.green-charcoal.net/ <10 yes Early stage development, but interesting concept

Heat Systems Australia http://heatsystems.com.au/ >5<20 yes

Could adopt a plant needed for the application,

need to get in touch

ICM, Inc United States www.icminc.com <10 yes

Interra Energy, Inc. United States www.interraenergy.us yes First pilot installed, Recomended by Adam O Tole

Ithaka Institute Switzerland http://www.ithaka-institut.org/de

Iwamoto Inc. Japan http://superstoneclean.com/

Juntos Energy

Corporation United States www.woodgas.com

KANSAI corporaton Japan

http://www.kansai-

sangyo.co.jp/eindex.html

Automated Rice Husk Carbonizer (ARHC) hsa

good references

Karr Group of Companies United States www.karrgroupco.com

Kaskad-E GmbH Switzerland www.kaskad-e.ch

Klean Industries Canada

http://www.kleanindustries.com/s/Home

.asp Jesse Klinkhamer

Lambiotte & Cie, S.A. Belgium

http://www.lambiotte.com/Solvent_from

_carbonization_our_acetals_-

page.htm?use=62

LEI Products United States www.leiprod.com

http://www.gamatec.ch/



Mississippi Water

International (China) Co. China http://www.mississippiwater.com.cn

Moki Manufacturing Japan http://moki-ss.co.jp/

Nanjing Qinfeng Straw

Technology Co. Ltd China http://njqfjg.com

Nettenergy BV Netherlands www.nettenergy.com

Nextchar LLC United States

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/steveroge

rs/A/740/277 Hugh McLaughlin no early stage kiln developer

Night Bright Engineering

Ltd New Zealand http://www.nightbright.co.nz no manufacturer for any kind of steel products

Norris Thermal

Technologies Inc. United States www.norristhermal.com yes investor of Biogreen and other heating systems

Novotera Canada www.planetstove.com no

Organic Power Solutions United States

http://www.organicpowersolutions.com/

technology.html no

Pacific Pyrolysis Australia http://pacificpyrolysis.com/agrichar.html <10 no

Pakistan Biochar Initiative Pakistan www.pakistanbiochar.com no

Peako Biomass Energy Hong Kong http://www.peako.net/index.php no too big gasifiers

Phoenix Energy United States http://www.phoenixenergy.net/ no wrong promises

Piroeco Bioenergy S.L. Spain http://www.piroeco.com/index.html yes very big producer of biochar

Pressvess United Kingdom http://www.pressvess.co.uk no

PRM Energy Systems, Inc. United States http://www.prmenergy.com >10<100 no focus on large stationary gasifiers

Profikomp Environmental

Technology Plc. Hungary http://www.profikomp.hu/index.php no

providing composting cover and monitoring

system

Proton Power United States www.protonpower.com <5 yes

seems to be dead. No current news. Focus on

syngas

http://www.phoenixenergy.net/

PYREG GmbH Germany http://www.pyreg.de/ >20 yes

new larger unit P1.500 available, ask for quote

and spec sheet, site visit in Sweden

Pyrocal (formerly Black is

Green) Australia www.pyrocal.com.au >5<20 yes

see Big Char CCT, should get in touch to get a

quote and spec sheet with details

Pyrolyzer, LLC United States http://www.pyrolyzer.net/Default.aspx yes not much info on website about technology

Pyrovac Inc. Canada none no

RA Biochar Thailand http://www.rabiochar.com/home.html no

rainbow bee eater Australia http://rainbowbeeeater.com.au yes very early stage, no system seen

Revatec Germany http://www.revatec.de/terracoal.htm no HTC

SERVALS India www.servals.in no

Shangqiu Haiqi Machinery

Equipment Co., Ltd. China http://haiqimachine.en.alibaba.com/ yes

to be followed in future, especially with a sight on

the Chinese market

Shanxi Supply and

Marketing Cooperative China www.sxsmcoop.com no

Showa Kikaki Co.,Ltd. Japan

http://www.showakikaku.co.jp/esumi10ji

.html no

Solworth Thailand none no

Stardust Earth New Zealand none no

sunwest bioenergy United States http://sunwestbioenergy no

Susteen Technologies

GmbH Germany www.susteen-tech.com <5 yes Fraunhofer Umsicht part of development

Terra Humana Ltd. Hungary http://www.3Ragrocarbon.com

Terralogix Group LLC United States http://www.terralogix.net/biochar no

Terra-Preta

Developments Australia http://frankstrie.blogspot.com/ no

Thermal Company

Limited Japan

http://www.ethermal.co.jp/English/Hom

ePage/1aCspec.htm no

TONGLI Machinery China

http://www.cncharcoalmachine.com/Pro

duct/#.VIe0QskhOQctonglimachine5@cnc

harcoalmachine.com no

V-Grid Energy Systems United States http://vgridenergy.com/ no

VUTHISA South Africa http://www.vuthisa.com no

http://rainbowbeeeater.com.au/

http://www.revatec.de/terracoal.htm

http://haiqimachine.en.alibaba.com/

http://www.sxsmcoop.com/



http://www.terralogix.net/biochar

http://frankstrie.blogspot.com/






Western Renewable

Technologies United States http://www.wrtpyrolysis.com/index.html no

Woodstock Sustainable

Farms United States

http://www.wssfarms.com/products/mir

acle-biochar-fertilizer/ no

WorldStove Italy www.worldstove.com no

ZeroPoint Clean Tech United States

http://www.zeropointcleantech.com/bioc

har no

Zhengzhou Kehua

Industrial Equipment Co.,

Ltd. China http://zzkhdq.en.alibaba.com/ no

Zhengzhou Shuliy

Machinery Co., Ltd. China http://www.shuliy.cn/ no

Choren Industrietechnik

GmbH Germany http://www.choren.com Can be adopted to Biochar and Heat generation

Ensyn Technologies Inc. Canada www.ensyn.com

Refgas Ltd United Kingdom https://www.refgas-uk.com/contact/ no

CharGrow LLC United States http://www.carbonchar.com no

Advanced in marketing biochar, currently

developing a pyrolysis unit

Noireco Finland https://noireco.fi/en <5 yes customer SSAB and StoraEnso

CarbonZero Switzerland

Standard Bio Norway www.standard.bio no about to install first pilot unit

PolyTechnik Austria https://biomass.polytechnik.com/ <5 no

Largest installation of biochar production in

Germany: GreenCarbon

http://www.wrtpyrolysis.com/index.html

http://www.ensyn.com/

http://www.standard.bio/

summary of different types of pyrolysis concepts

Documents