Why charcoal?

There are over 8000 commercial uses for charcoal. Converting the mountains of plant and animal residues that accumulate in rural and urban landscapes to charcoal and associated products can be a profitable and environmentally responsible activity. The core objective of BiG is to create a range of thermal upgrading technologies to extract or add value to otherwise troublesome biomass residues.

Some of the value adding prospects targeted by BiG include:

Charcoal products
Torrefied biomass (baked biomass for use as a coal substitute).
Heat and electrical power generation.
Thermal treatment of hazardous wastes.

What is the difference between Biochar and Charcoal?

Biochar is simply a particular type of charcoal, intended for use in soil improvement, generated from organic matter under controlled conditions. For more information about biochar you may wish to read the following books :

Taylor P. (2010) The Biochar Revolution,
Global Publishing Group, Mt. Evelyn (Victoria – Australia). ISBN 978-1-921630-41-5.
With contributions of our Principal Technologist and Director Dr James Joyce.
See www.TheBiocharRevolution.com for more information
Lehmann, J., Joseph, S. (2009) Biochar for Environmental Management – Science and Technology, Earthscan, London. ISBN 978-1-84407-658-1.

or review the content at the International Biochar Initiative website www.biochar-international.org