Black is Green Pty Ltd

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy a BiGchar machine?
Not necessarily. Profitable operation of a pyrolysis system requires much more than just the core technology. For this reason BiG generally prefers to operate in a negotiated joint venture or other form of co-operation with existing businesses. Under these arrangements the site host and BiG negotiate how the production site establishment and operating costs, and resulting revenues, are shared.

Generally the revenue streams are waste processing fees, sales of biochar/charcoal based products and/or torrefied biomass, process heat and electricity. For aid projects the "revenue" may be grant payments linked to suitable project milestones.

A potential user of BiGchar technology needs to pre-qualify by demonstrating sufficient financial resources and the ability to source adequate feedstock and to obtain any necessary environmental and council permits for the proposed operating site. BiG may then design, supply, maintain and probably operate a suitable mobile, relocatable or modular pyrolysis system. By negotiation costs, responsibilities and benefits will be allocated.  Once the system has been bedded in and proven the opportunity may be extended for the host business to purchase the system – or the operation may continue as a joint enterprise.

Can I buy BiGchar and for how much?
BiG welcomes enquiries from consumers seeking biochar or charcoal in quantities of a tonne or more and especially enquiries from individuals or organisations seeking biochar for field research trials. For production and safety reasons the char is delivered with a moisture content of 25-50%.

Can I license the BiGchar technology?
BiG is willing to license its technology, but only outside of Australia and to potential partners with a proven track record in the biochar or agricultural industry. Please contact us to discuss.

Can I invest in BiG?
BiG is open to consideration of equity investments, or investment in projects that utilise the BiGchar technologies. In the latter case BiG aims to develop projects with investor payback periods of less than three years. Please contact us if you wish to explore these options

Can I buy plans and build my own BiGchar unit?
As an individual, no. 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.

Is BiGchar activated carbon?
No. An activation step is required and the feedstock needs to be suitable. BiG can offer a supplementary steam activation process to produce activated carbon from suitable feedstock (such as bamboo or nut shells). Please contact us to discuss.

Isn’t slow pyrolysis recommended for biochar?
We describe our process as fast pyrolysis, although technically it sits somewhere between slow and fast pyrolysis. More importantly our process emulates the processes by which charcoal is generated in nature. This means the resulting char has characteristics that many plants and microbes evolved to take advantage of. In contrast chars from synthetic processes can result in chemical residues and structures that are somewhat alien to natural soil environments.

The char from BiG’s pyrolysis conditions has different characteristics to that from slow pyrolysis, but this does not detract from its use as a soil improver. The results from independent trials speak for themselves.

Aren’t the char yields lower for fast pyrolysis
Generally yes, however it appears that plants growing in high yield chars generally will not perform as well as those in BIGchar. High yield is good for fuel charcoal, but not so great in terms of Biochar performance. Independent analysis indicates that our chars have more than double the adsorption of typical high yield chars. BIGchar systems are very adaptable, so it is quite possible to configure for high yield when aiming for torrefied fuel or fuel charcoal applications.

The other key factor is productivity. The BiGchar process will produce typically 2 to 5 times more char per unit of labour and machine cost than indirectly heated continuous retorts and as much as 10 times more than most batch retort systems. When you combine both of these considerations in a life cycle analysis, the BiGchar technology has lower inputs per unit of charcoal activity of anything else we know of.

Does charcoal production threaten native forests and take land away from food crops?
BiGchar provides the means to return valuable carbon and nutrients to the soil in a sustainable manner.

Are the off-gases from the charcoal process utilised?
BiGchar mobile units use some of the off-gases to run the process and the rest are burnt off cleanly. In the case of fixed site applications, it is typically possible to make use of the off-gases to generate additional useful heat, to possibly run engines and to generate electricity. Please contact BiG to discuss the pros and cons of using heat or gas for electricity cogeneration in particular situations.

Emissions?
We have confirmed through emissions testing that the native emissions from the BIGchar process are inherently low without any additional emissions controls. In fact BiG has received unofficial advice is that in many jurisdictions units up to our 2200 size may fall below the threshold to require emissions licencing.

The regulatory requirements vary greatly by location and application, as does the emissions performance with feedstock, so the exact requirements are determined on a case by case basis.