FAQs

Below please find answers to frequently asked questions. For additional questions or further information please feel free to contact us!

> At which capacity is a CarboREN^® plant profitable?
> How expensive is a CarboREN^® plant?
> How does the CarboREN^® concept work?
> Which types of biomass can be used in the CarboREN^® process?
> What is the energy efficiency of the CarboREN^® process?
> Can SunCoal^® biocoal be used in existing coal-fired power plants?
> Does SunCoal Industries sell biocoal?
> How does biocoal support climate protection?
> How environmentally friendly and sustainable is the CarboREN^® process?
> Does the government support the use of biocoal as energy?
> How can biocoal support increase in the provisioning of energy?
> How high are the production costs for SunCoal^®?
> How does SunCoal Industries contribute to the development of Germany as a business location?
> Why should biocoal be burned, when there are other more high-value uses?
> Can biocoal be used as soil fertilizer?
> Does humus suffer as a result of using biomass to produce biocoal?
> Does biocoal contribute to the storage of CO₂?

At which capacity is a CarboREN^® plant profitable?

For an economically efficient production, a CarboREN plant should be constructed to refine al least 7 tons of raw material per hour. The investment costs for a lower amount of raw material would stay the same, since most of the technical components of the plant have a minimum size.

How expensive is a CarboREN^® plant?

The investment costs for a CarboREN plant depend on the project specifics, especially the on-site synergies that are available. Cost estimates can first be made once there is sufficient information at hand concerning the planned project.

How does the CarboREN^® process work?

The CarboREN process is described > here.

Which types of biomass can be used in the CarboREN^® process?

The advantage of the CarboREN process is that almost all types of biomass can be used. Organic material from municipalities, such as green waste, leaves or grass can be used. Additionally, organic waste from farming, forestry or from existing processing can be used, for example wood chips, bagasse, straw or rice husks.

What is the energy efficiency of the CarboREN^® process?

The CarboREN process is an especially energy efficient technology. The energy efficiency on the basis of higher heating value (HHV), including all additional energy sources, is 90%. Only the equivalent of 7% of the energy of the biocoal produced is needed for the production of SunCoal from biomass with 50% water content.

Can SunCoal^® biocoal be used in existing coal-fired power plants?

SunCoal can be used in existing coal-fired power plants for co-firing purposes. Its application in existing power plants can serve as an interim solution during the structural changes taking place in the renewable energy sector.

Does SunCoal Industries sell biocoal?

SunCoal Industries mainly offers customers services for the successful construction of a CarboREN plant to produce biocoal. The sale of the final biocoal product is at the discretion of the customer. The exception to this is the biocoal produced in the SunCoal HTC pilot plant, which can be produced for R&D purposes upon request.

How does the use of biocoal support climate protection?

Biocoal can be used as a substitute for fossil coal for the production of heat and power. As with any use of biomass for energy, the only CO₂ released in the atmosphere is that which was previously absorbed through photosynthesis. The CO₂ levels stay, as in nature, balanced. Through the use of biocoal as energy, additional climate-damaging CO₂ emissions from fossil fuels can be avoided. Additionally, the CarboREN process, compared to other bio-energy technologies, produces no fermentation residues that release harmful greenhouse gases. Using the CarboREN process almost all methane emissions can be avoided. Methane is almost 22 times more damaging to the environment than CO₂.

How environmentally friendly and sustainable is the CarboREN^® process?

In addition to the excellent CO₂ balance, the CarboREN process also used limited resources and is environmentally friendly. Mostly organic waste that would otherwise rot or be composted is used, which does not impact the production of foodstuffs.

Does the government support the use of biocoal as energy?

The use of bio-coal as an energy source is supported in Europe because of its positive effect on the climate. The same legislation applies as that for the use of biomass as energy in general. In Germany, the use of biocoal for the production of decentralized heat and power is supported by the German renewable energy law (Erneuerbaren Energien Gesetz, EEG). Through this law, the feed-in tariffs for power generated from biocoal supply of energy from biocoal are guaranteed for 20 years. The thermal use of biocoal in decentralized heating station directly supports the requirements of the German renewable energy heating laws (Erneuerbaren-Energien-Wärmegesetz EEWG). Europe-wide, CO₂ certificates for EU Emissions Trading System, can be „saved“ using biocoal for co-firing in coal-firing power plants.

How can biocoal support increase in the provisioning of energy?

Biomass is a locally produced raw material which, as opposed to petroleum and crude oil, does not need to be imported from politically instable and far-away regions. Through the refining of local biomass to biocoal, and its use as energy, regional energy independence can be supported. Additionally, biocoal produced energy is not dependent on weather, like that of solar and wind energy. Biocoal can be stored over a long period of time and used as needed.

How high are the production costs for SunCoal^®?

Similar to the investment costs, the production costs of SunCoal are dependent on the project specifications. An indication of the overall costs can first be provided when more information about the project scope is available. The CarboREN technology can improve the climate balance in municipalities through the use of organic waste, without surpassing the costs of composting.

How does SunCoal Industries contribute to the development of Germany as a business location?

In addition to the technical know-how, SunCoal secures highly qualified jobs in economically underdeveloped regions. Germany is known as a location for high-tech products, especially in the space of renewable technologies. SunCoal Industries supports this profile with their innovative technologies. More information on this topic in German at www.htc-labs.org/standortdeutschland/.

Why should biocoal be burned, when there are other more high-value uses?

Using biocoal for energy is only one possible application. SunCoal powder can also be refined as fuel gas or syngas. At high efficiency, fuel gas can be used in gas engines for CNP generation. Syngas can be used as a raw material for the production of second-generation bio-fuels (biomass-to-liquids, BtL-fuel). The conception and use of each CarboREN plant is in accordance to the wishes of the client.

Can biocoal be used as a soil fertilizer?

The use of the biocoal material as a soil fertilizer is currently being researched by a number of scientific and technical bodies. There is currently no concrete evidence that support the technical and economic advantages of this application. Nevertheless, SunCoal Industries supports these research and development activities, in order to provide their clients with further product applications.

Does humus suffer as a result of using biomass to produce biocoal?

Composting using organic waste produces compost that can be used in household gardens and in farming as an organic fertilizer. A positive climate effect is achieved by substituting organic for mineral fertilizers. But since composting also releases large amounts of harmful greenhouse gases (such as methane and nitrous oxide), it is regarded in the best-case as climate neutral. Through the refining of biomass to coal only a small amount of additional energy is needed. The added positive effect to the climate, by reducing the use of fossil fuels, saves up to 500 kg-CO₂-equivalent, in comparison to composting.

Does biocoal contribute to the storage of CO₂?

Biocoal produced through hydrothermal carbonization can be stored for long periods with the CO₂ content intact. The rotting process, which would release integral CO_2, is prevented.