Frequently Asked
Questions
Can I buy a BiGchar machine
and for how much?
In Australia you can buy a BiGchar machine (basic cost around
A$250,000 for a BiGchar 2200). Smaller units range down in price to
about A$160,000 for a mobile BiGchar 1500 and up in price to more
than A$900,000 for a fixed site BiGchar 4800.
We also offer our main
commercial unit, the BiGchar 2200, in Australia on a 48 month lease.
Other options can be discussed.
Outside Australia you may be
able to buy a BiGchar machine exported from Australia if we are
confident that you will protect our patent and IP. To improve the
situation we are actively seeking able and reliable manufacturing
licensees and distributors to protect our patent and IP in order to
permit prudent distribution in Britain, Europe, North America and
Asia.
Can I buy BiGchar and for how much?
If you are in Australia, yes.
BiGchar is distributed through
Renewable Carbon Resources Australia (RCRA) alongside their own
range of hardwood biochar products. Please contact Karen at:
RCRA
GPO Box 111
Brisbane QLD, 4001
Phone: (07) 3010 9755
Fax: (07) 3010 9001
Email:
info@rcra.com.au
Web:
www.rcra.com.au
Call us if you want to use a BiGchar mobile plant to make your own
biochar from your own feedstock.
Can I license the BiGchar technology?
BiG is willing to license its technology only outside of Australia to potential partners, but
only those with a proven track record in the biochar or agricultural
industry. Please
contact us to discuss.
Can I invest in BiG?
BiG is not currently seeking direct investment in the company.
However, we are actively seeking suitable partners in Australia or
elsewhere who are willing to invest in the development of projects
that utilise the BiGchar technology and its products.
Inside Australia such a
relationship is likely to involve marrying BiGchar equipment to a
waste management problem (especially municipal or similarly large
waste processing facilities), an energy production or saving
situation (municipal or major industrial), a major fuel consumption
situation (char fuel, torrefied fuel, flue heat and/or pyrolysis gas
for major boilers), major, ongoing rehabilitation situations (e.g.
open cut mine rehabilitation) or large scale agricultural users or
commercial distributers of soil improvers and related products.
Outside Australia it is more
likely that associated investment would involve producing Bigchar
equipment under licence and/or distributing BiGchar equipment
sourced from Australia or from an off-shore manufacturing base.
Exclusive or limited licences are available for suitable companies.
Can I buy plans and build my own BiGchar unit?
As an individual, no. BiG’s patented technology is currently offered
for direct sale or via a serviced lease in Australia, or under
limited situations by export from Australia. It is necessary to
ensure that users are properly trained and supported and that the
technology is used responsibly and with respect for its patent and
IP.
Only an acceptable overseas
business might be able to secure the right to build their own
BiGchar units, once they have secured the necessary licence from
BiG.
Is BiGchar activated carbon?
No. An activation step is required. BiG can offer a steam activation
process to produce activated carbon. Please contact us to discuss.
Isn’t slow pyrolysis recommended for biochar?
The char from fast pyrolysis has different characteristics to that
from slow pyrolysis, but this does not detract from its use as a
soil improver. In many cases fast pyrolysis confers useful
advantages, such as:
-
Better retention of plant
nutrients such as nitrogen, sulphur and minerals in the char, as
opposed to losing these into the off-gases where they become
potential air pollutants.
-
Better retention of total
carbon (providing a more immediate benefit useful for soils poor
in organic carbon).
-
A reduction in the
potential to form aromatic organic compounds, which can be toxic
to soil organisms.
Chars from fast pyrolysis contain more volatile carbon than from
slow pyrolysis. This is mostly in the form of simple sugars. These
provide food for microbes in carbon depleted soils. This process
then opens up the surface area of the residual carbon/inorganic
matrix for microbes to live in.
BiGchar units can be operated to produce chars anywhere from a high
yield moderately alkaline char with moderate surface area, to a
significantly alkaline char with higher initial surface area. The
trade-offs are in yield and off-gas emissions of nitrogen, sulphur
and other potential nutrients.
Does charcoal production threaten native forests and take land
away from food crops?
The lease and sale terms for BiG’s technologies do not permit the
use of the units for the processing of native forest timber other
than material derived from responsible forest management practices.
BiGchar technologies are intended to complement food crop cycles
rather than replace them, by providing the means to returning
valuable carbon and nutrients to the soil in a sustainable manner.
Are the off-gases from the charcoal process utilised?
The standard BiGchar mobile unit uses some of the off-gases to run
the process. The rest are burnt off cleanly. In some cases,
especially fixed applications, it is possible to make use of the
off-gases to generate useful heat, to run engines and even to
generate electricity. These all add costs and complication, so they
must be evaluated and justified for the specific circumstances.
Please contact BiG to discuss cogeneration and other off-gas
utilisation options.
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