Technology

Our Technology

Controlled pyrolysis for durable carbon removal

What is Biochar?

Engineered carbon that lasts for centuries.

Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced through the thermal decomposition of organic biomass under limited-oxygen conditions, a process known as pyrolysis. Unlike conventional charcoal, biochar is engineered for environmental and agricultural applications, with a focus on long-term carbon sequestration and soil enhancement.

The Pyrolysis Process

Five controlled steps, one durable result.

1🌾

Biomass Preparation

Agricultural residues brought to consistent moisture and particle size.

2🔥

Pyrolysis

Heated to 300–700°C under limited oxygen.

3⚗️

Outputs

Biochar (solid), syngas (gas), bio-oil (liquid).

4❄️

Cool & Condition

Cooled, conditioned, sized or blended.

5🔬

Lab Analysis

Carbon content, stability, pH, nutrient profile.

Technical Specifications

Key operating parameters.

ParameterSpecification
Throughput / capacity (feedstock t/yr)~ 12,000 t/yr (Phase 1)
Biochar output (t/yr)~ 3,600 t/yr (30% mass yield)
Operating temperature range300–700°C (target 500–600°C)
Residence time20–40 minutes
Energy requirementsAutothermal — process heat from combustion of syngas & bio-oil
Emissions profileSyngas fully combusted; no open-burn methane or black carbon
Biomass Feedstocks

Locally sourced, sustainably harvested.

Agricultural Residues

Coffee, Maize & Rice

Coffee husks, maize cobs and rice husks — waste streams from Ugandan agriculture.

Forest Residues

Encroacher Species

Sickle bush and Acacia hockii — harvested to restore native grasslands.

Local Biomass

Other Biomass

Additional local biomass as confirmed by laboratory characterisation.

Laboratory Results

Every batch, independently characterised.

ParameterMethodRun 1Run 2Run 3
Total carbon (%)ASTM D3172 (dry, ash-free)78.481.279.6
Organic / stable carbon (%)IBI Corg method72.174.873.4
H/C molar ratioElemental analysis (CHN)0.380.320.35
pHISO 10390 (1:5 water)9.29.59.3
Ash content (%)ASTM D176214.612.913.7
Nutrient profile (N-P-K %)Kjeldahl / ICP-OES1.1 - 0.4 - 2.61.3 - 0.5 - 2.91.2 - 0.4 - 2.7
"H/C molar ratio is the key parameter for establishing biochar permanence — a low ratio indicates highly stable, aromatic carbon that resists decomposition for centuries."
Soil Science

How does biochar improve water retention?

A single gram of biochar can carry hundreds of square metres of internal surface area. Those pores behave like a sponge in the root zone — absorbing water when it rains and releasing it slowly as crops need it.

Without biochar

Water passes through. Roots stay shallow.

Cross-section of dry cracked farmland soil where rainwater drains straight past shallow maize roots
💧
Low water holding capacityRain runs off the crusted surface.
⏳
Rapid drainageWater slips past the roots into subsoil.
🌾
Water stressShallow roots dry out between rains.
~30%of rainfall retained in the root zone
With biochar

Water is held in the pores. Roots go deeper.

Cross-section of dark biochar-amended soil holding water droplets around deep, dense maize roots
Magnified view of biochar's honeycomb pore structure
Biochar's microscopic pores hold water like a sponge
💧
Higher water retentionPores hold moisture where roots sit.
🌱
Improved root-zone moistureWater stays plant-available for longer.
🧫
Better soil structureOpen, friable soil that microbes colonise.
🌳
Enhanced plant growthDeeper roots, stronger, steadier yields.
up to 2×more plant-available water held in amended soil

Biochar helps soil store water, making more of it available to plants.

  • 💧
    Reduces water loss
  • ☁️
    Increases drought resilience
  • ♻️
    Supports sustainable agriculture
  • 🌍
    Contributes to climate-smart farming
Microscopic view of biochar's honeycomb pore structure holding water droplets
Under the microscope

The pore structure does the work.

Pyrolysis burns off volatile compounds and leaves behind the plant's original cellular skeleton — a honeycomb of channels a few microns wide. Water is drawn into those channels by capillary action and held against gravity, then released slowly back to roots and soil microbes during dry periods.

  • High internal surface area retains both moisture and dissolved nutrients.
  • Stable carbon walls mean the structure persists for centuries, not seasons.
  • Pores shelter the microbial life that cycles nutrients back to the crop.
Live From the Facility

Photos and video from Nyakakoni — coming soon.

Our processing facility at Plot 51, Block 24 at Nyakakoni, Isingiro is being established. This gallery will be filled with live photography and video of the plant, kilns and field operations as commissioning progresses.

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Site & Civil Works

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Pyrolysis Units

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Video

Production Walkthrough

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Feedstock Yard

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Field Application

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Farmer Partnerships

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Certification & Standards

Third-party verified integrity.

✅

Verra Registry

Registered under the Verified Carbon Standard for high-integrity carbon removal credits.

📜

Approved Methodology

Aligned with approved biochar methodology (Verra VM0044).

🔎

Accredited Verifier

Independent verification by an accredited third-party validator.

🇺🇬

Uganda Compliance

Fully aligned with Uganda's National Climate Change Regulations.