Biochar Manufacturers

[erich]

Posted to the TP List;


[Terrapreta] Char Manufacturing on an Industrial Scale

Gerry Kutney to Terra Preta List

Recently, there has been some recent discussions about the availability of “char” and the requisite biomass to produce it. I would like to introduce the members of the TP forum to Alterna Energy (clean + green - the alterna option - Alterna Energy). We are a “char” manufacturer but prefer the term “biocarbon; “ the term char implies a waste product, at least, to some. However, we have no desire to enter the naming debate that some members of the list have been involved in. As a famous man once said, “a (black) rose by any other name.”



There have also been some reports of the char from the Dynamotive process. Their process produces pyrolysis oil, where char is a by-product and is more of a disposal issue for them than a product line. The char is also contaminated with the oil, which can make handling the product difficult.



We are a biocarbon manufacturer, using a technology developed in South Africa, now owned by Alterna Energy. Our head office is in Prince George, BC, Canada. Alterna Energy has an industrial facility in South Africa and a demonstration plant in McBride, BC. Among the market sectors for biocarbon, terra preta is of prime interest.



We are participating in full-scale TP field trials in Australia. In our opinion, we hope other members will get their governmental agricultural agencies to carry out further field trials. We are encouraging the same in BC and Canada. To take terra preta to the broader agricultural community, we believe such actions are necessary.



If any members wish to discuss our operations and do not wish to burden the other members of the TP forum, they may contact me through the website above.



Gerry Kutney

Chief Operating Officer

cid:image001.jpg@01C8CB24.30AAF2F0

250-649-2459

[InfiniteNow]

Thank Thor that there are people like this on our planet.

As always, thanks Erich.

[erich]

The Carbon Char Group's new web site

Check out the Carbon negitive bird seed video

This group has the broadest experience working with chars in the soil.
They have drawn talented people long associated with the biochar companies ( long that is in biochar years, 6years)

Jon Nilsson ; Egen's soils assoiatate eGenesis Industries : HOME ,
, worked with Eprida at one time, is the main man in CCG.

"Charcoal bob" Hawkins ; works with Danny Day, he's on some of the CCG's research papers
Also Dr. Kriss Nichols; ARS glomalin researcher, doing carbon sequestration validation studies with Jon.
Rebecca Ogelsby; works with Eprida

An idea whose time has come | Carbon Char Group

Erich

[erich]

Here's my full list of Biochar Companies;

Carbon Diversion
Carbon Diversion

Eprida: Sustainable Solutions for Global Concerns
Eprida: Sustainable Solutions for Global Concerns

BEST Pyrolysis, Inc. | Slow Pyrolysis - Biomass - Clean Energy - Renewable Ene
BEST Pyrolysis, Inc. | Slow Pyrolysis - Biomass - Clean Energy - Renewable Energy - Char - green coal - pelletized fuel - syngas for electrical generation - carbon credits - increases rural jobs and construction development

Dynamotive Energy Systems | The Evolution of Energy
Dynamotive Energy Systems | The Evolution of Energy

Ensyn - Environmentally Friendly Energy and Chemicals
http://www.ensyn.com/who/ensyn.htm

Agri-Therm, developing bio oils from agricultural waste
Agri-Therm, developing bio oils from agricultural waste

Advanced BioRefinery Inc.
ABRI

Technology Review: Turning Slash into Cash
Technology Review

3R Environmental Technologies Ltd. (Edward Someus)
WEB: TERRA HUMANA

The company has Swedish origin and developing/designing medium and large scale carbonization units. The company is the licensor and technology provider to NviroClean Tech Ltd British American organization WEB: Nviro Cleantech – Investing in Clean Technologies and VERTUS Ltd.
Welcome to Vertus Technologies

Genesis Industries, licensee of Eprida technology, provides carbon-negative EPRIDA energy machines at the same cost as going direct to Eprida. Our technical support staff also provide information to obtain the best use of biochar produced by the machine. Recent research has shown that EPRIDA charcoal (biochar) increases plant productivity as it sequesters carbon in soil, thus reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide.eGenesis Industries : HOME


Australian Bio Chars

Australian Biochars was incorporated by Paul Conyers and Jerome Matthews and has a number of associates within S.E. Asia many of whom were involved with the EU sponsored Cogen 3 project.

Paul is a long-time business consultant whose imagination has been captured by the prospect of soil carbon both increasing crop yields and capturing greenhouse gasses while Jerome, after many years as a lawyer, became concerned about the pollution caused by agriwaste, particularly rice husk, of which more than 150 million tonnes is generated annually.Australian Bio Chars

EcoCarbons ; About Us | Eco Carbons Pty Ltd

Renewable Oil International® LLC (ROI) is a company dedicated to developing Advanced Fast Pyrolysis Biorefinery Technology to cost effectively fractionate wood and other types of biomass into high-value products.
They will soon demonstrate their mobile unit in association with the National Biomass Producers Association.
Renewable Oil International®, LLC

Cheers,
Erich

[erich]

I spoke with Jon Nilsson of the CarbonChar Group.

"Biochar+" is available now only with orders of four pallets ( 4 tons )

40 - 50# bags / pallet @ $50 per bag = $2000 / ton

He said the 2008 trials at Virginia Tech showed a 46% increase in yield of tomato transplants grown with just 2 - 5 cups (2 - 5%) "Biochar+" per cubic foot of growing medium.


An idea whose time has come | Carbon Char Group

[Ahmabeliever]

$50! Excuse me for sounding cheap but that price is outrageous.

A by-product of a process sourcing waste as supply...

Never would I pay that much for 'char'.

Yes I only need 2-5% char to get results, I can make this from scraps off my shelter belts.

I could almost buy a barrel of oil for that price.

One thing the TP community need to sell this product is to show the affordability/viability of utilising farm wastes as a source of energy and soil ameliorant.

This is just another method to drain the bank. Clean or not.

My opinion, won't be the only gardener who sees that price and outright rejects it.

[erich]

The CCG has a proprietary process for adsorption of compost tea into their biochar.
They have three years of (Payed for) field testing at Virginia Tech which have shown significant yield increases with very low application rates; 20% in Corn with 20#/acre, 42% in tomatoes (with 2-5% in transplant growth medium)

These yields more than justify the cost.

[Ahmabeliever]

"These yields more than justify the price"

To you maybe, not to me. Compost tea has NO storage life - NONE. Maybe 12 hours if you're feeling brave. So what are they selling, anaerobes? A proprietary process - hmm, a process that no one else has been able to accomplish, including many high profile lettered people who devote their entire facilities and resources to compost tea brewing..

I make compost tea for pennies - it will give a yield increase, in poor soil, a dramatic increase. Without the char. This compost tea is fresh, and thus aerobic. Pre ferting your char yes - pre amending with compost tea - oh come on, that's definately stretching the truth.

EM would be a much better idea, it has some stability. Even if they can make compost tea that is stable in the char, which sounds like a sales pitch more than reality, Storage of such a product will be a nightmare.

Yes, it's a green product, so? - we have to suffer financially to use recycled rubbish and come out looking clean (of cash).

$50 for a bag of char. Ludicrous.

Who's that going to help? Rich farmers.

[erich]

Again, CCG wont talk about there process, so I can't counter your concerns about stability / shelf-life etc.

A product from Advanced and Experimental Microbiology
(Applied & Experimental Microbiology - Welcome) that has a the turf and ag people in
Florida estatic. Two of those are photosynthetic bacteria, others
are from research into compost, etc.. It would be worthy of someone
checking as a reliable source alternative to making compost tea each
time of uncertain strength. It has 50 billion organisms per quart,
and a stable shelf life of 3 to 5 years.

The effect of application in most cultures allows reducing
fertilizer and water needed by about half. Some truck farmers in S.
Florida and golf courses were able to cut fungicides even more. Tests
on peanuts for the big Moultrie GA. Ag Expo showed adding it gave an
increase of nearly half in yield over standard best practices.

Applied & Experimental Microbiology - Welcome

[Essay]

Originally Posted by erich

Again, CCG wont talk about there (their, ) process....
Two of those are photosynthetic bacteria, others are from research into compost, etc..
...reducing fertilizer and water needed by about half. Some truck farmers in S. Florida and golf courses were able to cut fungicides even more....

I'm amazed that they've done all this work and already figured this stuff out. From reading these threads here at Hypography, it's obvious that these enhancements and synergies are possible, but they seem to have already done a really good job.

Still, $50.00 does seem a bit high.
They should be subsidized by the government because of how much benefit this provides to the environment....

~