BEC is developing light industrial equipment that produces biochar and heat. Our research team is led by one of the preeminent scientists in the world on biomass gasification and charcoal, and BEC is among the first to apply this technology to the biochar market. Our beta product is pictured here.
This unit processes up to 500 lbs of woody biomass per hour. These mobile units can be deployed at the source of the biomass—minimizing transport costs; avoiding carbon emissions from transportation; and in some cases, tipping fees. BEC systems require only grid power or a genset, nominal propane for start-up, and a level pad to install.
BEC's core product will convert dry woodchips into biochar and heat at forest staging areas or forest-product processing plants. We are also currently testing other biomass feedstocks on a contract basis. Please contact us if you would like to explore testing your feedstock.
Biochar co-products promise to totally change the economics of biomass energy, potentially as much as doubling the total value derived from biomass. For agricultural and forest-product processing plants that produce waste biomass, BEC will ultimately offer the opportunity to produce liquid fuels, along with process heat co-generation, from their own waste stream.
In the near future we will connect our gas stream to a package boiler to produce a hot water or steam. Several customers are already pushing us to produce electricity with a turbine or Rankine cycle engine. While attractive for many grant-funded projects, this is currently only economically sustainable in the more expensive electric markets around the world. By producing consistent modular units—thereby minimizing and standardizing costs—BEC will provide a platform for small project financing and eliminate many of the existing obstacles to biomass energy.