Pyrolysis and processing
Suitable biomass is heated in a controlled process to produce biochar and heat. Feedstock preparation, drying and biochar handling are specified around your operation.
Distributed biomass energy systems
Turn local biomass into useful heat, stored energy and biochar.
CapChar develops integrated biomass energy systems for farms, estates and rural businesses. We combine pyrolysis equipment with CapChar heat batteries and carbon-recording infrastructure to support useful heat, biochar production and eligible carbon removal.
What could your biomass do? ↗Explore the system ↓
Useful heat
For drying and suitable site heating applications.
Stored energy
Thermal storage connects production with demand.
Stored carbon
Biochar, backed by a measured carbon-removal pathway.
Start with your site
Your biomass is a resource. Make it work harder.
Managing woody residues can take space, time and money. At the same time, your business may be buying energy to dry products or heat buildings.
We start with the material you have, the heat you can use and the economics of your operation. Feedstock preparation, moisture and particle size are part of that assessment — alongside labour, space and site requirements.
The result is a system designed around useful outputs and a practical operating model.
One integrated system
Biomass. Heat. Biochar.
Connected by CapChar.
We combine pyrolysis equipment with CapChar thermal storage and carbon infrastructure to develop a complete site solution.
Make heat now.
Use it later.
Our thermal battery is designed to capture and store heat from pyrolysis, helping match heat production to drying or heating demand.
Measure the carbon pathway.
Digital monitoring, reporting and verification (dMRV), the Biochar Carbon Code and registry connect production records with evidence of durable carbon storage.
Start with suitable biomass
Pyrolysis produces heat and biochar from suitable material.
The heat pathway
Recovered heat connects to the heat battery and suitable drying or heating demand.
The biochar pathway
Biochar handling and testing connect production with an eligible end use and durable carbon storage.
The evidence pathway
dMRV supports the records, the BCC sets the methodology and the registry provides public records.
A simplified system overview. Carbon removal depends on eligible material and end use, project emissions, testing and required verification; the flow does not guarantee credit issuance.
Built around real demand
Where biomass and useful heat meet.
Farms and estates
Explore how local woody residues could support on-site drying, heat use and biochar production.
Wood and biomass businesses
Assess an integrated route for suitable chip streams, with recovered heat used in drying operations.
Commercial biochar producers
Develop production, processing and carbon-recording requirements together, with the intended biochar market in mind.
Scale to suit the opportunity
A modular approach.
A clear development path.
Current project focus
Pyrolysis technology
We develop integrated pyrolysis technology around suitable biomass and a practical use for the heat. Talk to us about feedstock, throughput, labour and budget to assess the fit.
In developmentSmaller-scale requirements
We welcome requirements from smaller farms and businesses. Tell us your material volumes, available labour and budget so we can assess the opportunity and inform our development.
Evidence from feedstock to end use
Carbon removal needs more than a machine.
CapChar connects equipment with the records and methodology needed to support a credible carbon-removal project.
dMRV
Our beta platform supports the capture of feedstock provenance, production measurements, sampling and testing records, and evidence of biochar end use.
Biochar Carbon Code
The BCC sets out CapChar’s methodology for quantifying and documenting eligible biochar carbon removal, including the project’s emissions.
Registry
The CapChar registry records issued Biochar Carbon Units. Eligibility and issuance depend on the required project evidence, testing and verification; producing biochar alone does not guarantee credits.
Explore the registry ↗Learning in the field
Built through practical pilot work.
From Cornwall to Hampshire
Our development builds on pilot work in Cornwall with Tom Previte and Restord, followed by our work with Carbon350 near Petersfield in Hampshire.
These projects inform the integration of biomass conversion, heat recovery, thermal storage and carbon recording. These lessons inform our ongoing development of integrated pyrolysis, heat recovery and carbon-recording solutions.
Support for our development
Supported through innovation programmes and grant funding.
CapChar’s development has benefited from support across biomass technology, greenhouse gas removal and agricultural innovation.
Undaunted
The Greenhouse innovation programme — Cohort 7.
Defra
Support for agricultural innovation and ammonia-emissions work.
BEIS
Support for greenhouse gas removal research and development.
Welsh Government
Support for ammonia-emissions development work.
OxLEP and ERDF
Support for kiln technology development.
Innovate UK
Support for technology development.
These organisations have supported specific programmes or development projects in CapChar’s history.
Featured on BBC Panorama
Our biochar story,
on national television.
Can Scientists Save the World?
CapChar was featured in BBC Panorama’s exploration of technologies tackling climate change.
The programme introduced our work on biochar and its potential to store carbon, bringing the story of local biomass and carbon removal to a wider audience.
Discuss your project
What could your biomass do?
Tell us what you have and what you want to achieve. We’ll start with whether there is a practical fit for your site.
Tell us about your project ↗A useful starting point
- Site location and type of business
- Feedstock type, source and annual quantity
- Typical moisture and current handling or disposal
- Heat demand: use, season and existing energy cost
- Available budget, labour and preferred timing
Exploring a smaller system? Include your requirements and budget so we can assess your needs and record your interest.
Practical questions
Common questions.
What does CapChar supply?
CapChar provides equipment integration, heat batteries and carbon infrastructure. The system brings together pyrolysis, heat recovery, thermal energy storage and carbon recording around a customer’s site.
Does CapChar sell heat, biochar or carbon credits?
Project operators produce and market their own outputs. CapChar supplies the technology and infrastructure that support their operation.
Can I enquire about a smaller system?
Smaller-scale requirements remain in development and are not currently available to order. CapChar welcomes requirements from smaller sites to inform future development.