Frequently asked questions:

Carbon economy with renewable biomass

CarboREN-process

SunCoal as a Fuel

Other applications of SunCoal

Why should SunCoal be burned if there are other premium applications for it?

Answers:

How does SunCoal help protect the climate?

SunCoal is coal from biomass. If SunCoal is used to generate energy and heat, fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, or brown and hard coal are replaced and in doing so additional climate damaging CO₂-emissions are prevented. Moreover, the CarboREN-process increases the efficiency of biomass utilization: with the same amount of fresh biomass, more electricity can be produced than in biomass heating power plants or biogas facilities. Another effect is the prevention of methane. During the decomposition process, methane gas is emitted. Methane is around 22 times more harmful for the climate than CO₂-Methane emissions, which are almost completely avoided by means of the CarboREN-process. Further information is also available at: www.htc-labs.org/en/advantage/klima

How does SunCoal increase security of energy supplies?

Biomass is a local resource. It must not, as with natural gas and oil, be imported from partly politically unstable and distant regions. The use of gained SunCoal from biomass can help make European energy providers more independent of supplies from crisis regions.

How does SunCoal contribute to the industrial location Germany?

We create highly skilled new jobs in partly economically underdeveloped regions. Germany is a prime location for high-tech products, especially in the area of renewable energies. We contribute to the strengthening of this profile. Further information available at: www.htc-labs.org/en/advantage/standort-deutschland

How does the CarboREN-process work?

Click here for more information on CarboREN

Which types of biomass can be utilized in the CarboREN-process?

In the CarboREN-process, nearly all types of biomass can be utilized. A particular advantage that the process offers is the ability to use damp biomass with a water content greater than 30%. This is the case with most of the biomass types except for matured timber (railroad ties have a water content of around 15%, freshly cut wood of around 50%). Organic waste and products from municipalities, the countryside and forestry can all be utilized. Examples are wood, corn, chopped grass, lop, leaves, and organic waste and biosolids. SunCoal Industries is currently focused on the biomass types lop, grass, leaves and wood.

How environmentally friendly is the CarboREN-process?

The use of biomass is made more efficient by means of the CarboREN-process. Each hectare of space produces around 10% more electricity than conventional methods from the same amount of biomass. For this reason, biomass utilization is decisively improved. The process itself is environmentally safe; no damaging by-products are generated.

What is the energy balance of the CarboREN-process?

The CarboREN-process increases the amount of usable energy in the biomass. The energy efficiency factor based on the heating value and including all auxiliary energy is larger than 90%. In other words, to produce SunCoal with 8% water content from biomass of around 50% water content, it is necessary to cover only production energy demand of only 6-9% of the produced coal.

Can SunCoal be utilized in conventional coal-burning power plants?

SunCoal can indeed be utilized in conventional coal-burning power plants. More information can be found here.

What does “CO₂-neutral” mean when using SunCoal as a fuel?

During the decomposition process the CO₂ captured within the plant as it grew is released. As the conversion to SunCoal takes place, the carbon from the biomass is stable and securely stored in the SunCoal. If the SunCoal is used a fuel, only the previously bound carbon from photosynthesis will be released back into the natural carbon cycle. The CO₂ balance remains, as in nature, in equilibrium.

Will the use of SunCoal as a fuel be politically supported?

The adoption of SunCoal as a fuel will indeed receive political support. By using SunCoal power plants can cut their emissions, purchase fewer CO₂-certificates, or as the case may be, sell their unused CO₂-certificates. Moreover, the use of SunCoal receives precedence in Germany from the Renewable Energies Law (EEG). Afterwards the feed-in price of electricity from biomass sources such as SunCoal is guaranteed payment for 20 years.

Why should SunCoal be burned if there are other premium applications for it?

The use of SunCoal as a fuel is one of several possible functions. There are other applications for example as an additive to soils, CO₂ storage, and a source material for tires, diesel or wax production. SunCoal Industries is working to develop these areas of application.

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