Biomass Cooking Fuel - Case Study
The two case studies below demonstrate the production of cooking charcoal using Pyrocal CCT in two very different economic and country settings.
Carbon Roots International
The mission of Carbon Roots International (CRI) is to enable the adoption of sustainable green charcoal in Haiti and the broader developing world. CRI’s endeavours are supported by various aide agencies.
The Issue
Traditionally Haitians use wood charcoal for cooking. However, the resulting high levels of deforestation has led to erosion and low agricultural productivity, perpetuating a cycle of extreme poverty in this island nation.
The Alternatives
CRI searched for a more sustainable and cost effective alternative to using wood to produce cooking charcoal. A Pyrocal CCT system was selected to manufacture charcoal, made locally from agricultural residues.
The Solution
Biomass for the Pyrocal CCT system is sourced from a variety of agricultural resides including corn stover, sugar cane trash, vetiver, rice hull and coffee hull. The biomass is transformed into biochar and processed into high quality charcoal briquettes.
The design and construction of the Pyrocal CCT system was adjusted to suit the scale and technology requirements of a developing country.
The Results
The planning started in October 2016 when CRI received initial funding, with production using the Pyrocal CCT system commencing mid 2017.
The results are a cooking fuel that costs less, burns longer and evenly, with consistent quality. No deforestation is involved and local jobs have been created.
CRI calculated:
- Payback on CapEx in nine months, based on 753 tons of charcoal produced monthly.
- 79,500 tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually.
Black Pearl Charcoal
Pyrocal uses its own facility in Toowoomba to produce premium barbeque charcoal for a discerning retail market.
The Issue
Pyrocal identified the need for a responsibly sourced and produced barbeque charcoal, with no chemical additives. In contrast, some barbecue charcoals on sale in Australia have a significant negative environmental impact, such as deforestation and high emissions during production.
A further consideration is that the nut processing industry has an ongoing issue with the disposal of nutshells.
The Alternatives
The Black Pearl Charcoal business case demonstrated that an environmentally responsible and commercially viable product could be produced using a Pyrocal CCT system.
Black Pearl Charcoal stacks up positively against competitive products in terms of usability. It is easy to light, long burning and smoke free.
The Solution
Black Pearl Charcoal is made from 100 percent Australian grown nutshells. These shells are a by-product of the nut processing industry and include one or more of walnut, pecan, macadamia, hazelnut and pistachio shells.
The nutshell biomass is transformed into biochar and processed into premium quality Black Pearl Charcoal.
The Results
Black Pearl Charcoal was launched in April 2018. Initial interest and sales have been positive.
We have also solved the nutshell disposal problem for a local nut farm and their processing plant.
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