Home / Environment / Char Tech Turns Waste to Biocarbon Power
Char Tech Turns Waste to Biocarbon Power
5 Sep
Summary
- Char Technologies is developing facilities to process organic waste into biogas and solid fuels.
- Their biocarbon can replace metallurgical coal for steelmakers.
- New facilities in Ontario and Quebec will produce biocarbon and RNG.
Char Technologies is advancing its innovative pyrolysis process to transform organic waste streams into biocarbon and biogas. The company's technology targets materials like woody biomass and biosolids, aiming to produce solid fuels for the steel industry.
Initially focused on activated carbon from digestate, Char Tech shifted to developing biocarbon after meeting with steel manufacturers. Their high-temperature pyrolysis converts feedstocks into 20% solids for biocarbon and 78% volatile matter and gas. This gas component can be upgraded into renewable natural gas (RNG), creating an additional revenue stream.
The company is also exploring biochar production but notes the biocarbon market is more established due to high demand from steelmakers. Char Tech is collaborating with Synagro and the City of Baltimore to process biosolids into biochar, with recent pilot tests showing substantial elimination of PFAS.
Char Tech's first commercial facility is launching this month in Thorold, Ontario. Two additional plants are under development in Saint-Félicien, Québec, and Hurket, Ontario, both slated to produce biocarbon and RNG. The company is also considering licensing its biosolids processing technology in the United States to accelerate deployment.
