Hello,
We are starting to build our biochar production business case with the local authorities. In order to do so, we would need certain informations about the C-Go kilns. I would like this post to be used for us to ask questions, information and documents relevant to this topic. Here are a few questions I have for the C-Go team:
I seem to remember that the amount of dry wood being processed by one batch run on the C-Go kiln was 400 kg. Am I correct?
What is the weight of a C-Go kiln? Is it possible for a few people to carry it up a field without access by vehicle?
Are C-Go kilns transportable?
Is BionerG's databox and analysis system up and running for other kilns than C-Go (e.g. retort kilns, as it was discussed last year with Adrian)?
Is there an option to use the C-Go kilns without the Databox, in a first instance?
How is the cost structure of BionerG's services on providing the DB and analysing the data looking like?Â
Another thing, we are building a powerpoint presentation to share with our local council in order to receive there financial support in trialing/scaling this project. Would anyone have a presentation on C-Go kiln to provide a basic canvas or at least for us to extract key information from?
Many thanks!
You remember well! Yes, the C-go kiln can take up to at least 400kg at a time, but we have found that 300kg-350kg per batch works well in terms of balancing biochar yield and duration of the process, although this may depend on the size and type of feedstock. The kiln itself weighs around 90kg plus the stand. Two of us have lifted it, but not very far! I imagine a team of four could carry it around by taking the shield walls off and holidng the lateral support bars. The idea of the long flat base is to enable it in principle to be put onto a trailor to make it transportable. The main kiln shape and size is standard, but the support can be adapted to local needs, provided the weight sensors are fitted coorectly. If you wish to pull around in a local environment, the possibility of adding wheels to a suitably modified support structure could be considered. Yes, our databoxes are now fitted to retorts and larger continuous systems. You can certainly operate without the databoxes, the biochar will be fine, but of course you can't get the data needed to fit the carbon removal methodology without eventually capturing and uploading the digital data in the box. A further benefit of the databoxes we have found is that they provide a lot of real-time operational data that can also be used to understand how to operate the process better, beyond what you can develop from visual experience alone. Our cost structure is geared to ensure it will provide the most robust and cost-effective way to validate carbon removals from distributed kilns, whether small-scale or large. The more data generated, the greater the economy of scale. We'll check out some suitable support for your presentation... Best wishes for a successful discussion with your local authorities!
Hi Jeremie, Great to hear & good luck! We will be having similar conversations with our mayor in Valencia Province when we have all our data together. Would be good to compare notes. Warm regards Jochen
Hi Jeremie, Really good to start talking here, we'll be able to get more expertise on your project. I'm interested to know more about the larger case study as well as your earlier trials with the C-Go 1 kiln. I'm sending you the blueprint for manufacture of that, and I can help you with assembly information as you hear back from them. Check your emails for that. I would really like to see some photos here of the biomass that you're going to be using, just so we can get more expertise on viewing it for likelihood of producing quality biochar.