Description

Explocom is a family-owned business that has been producing BBQ charcoal since 1992. The company is now transitioning from BBQ charcoal to biochar for soil amendment and construction materials. In addition, Explocom produces liquid pyrolytic bio-condensate or wood vinegar. The company recently received the EBC certificate for sustainable biochar production. Explocom uses the retort method of pyrolysis. The heat from the syngas combustion is used in the pyrolysis process and for drying incoming feedstock. Excess syngas can be captured and stored for renewable electricity production onsite. During pyrolysis, the biochar reaches a 600°C temperature and after the process is finished it is left for 24 hours to cool down and afterwards it is pulverized. Explocom sells biochar both in powder and in granular form under the brand name Gekka Biochar. They have plans to install additional machinery that will increase the biochar production capacity threefold. The biochar has a carbon content of 78%. A lifecycle assessment (LCA) of Explocom’s production process was carried out by Accend in 2022. The LCA accounts for all process emissions from harvesting of the wood, transport to the production site, and the manufacturing of the biochar on-site and confirms that 2.47 tonnes of CO2 are removed by every 1 ton of biochar. 3rd party verification against the Puro Standard was completed in Q2 2022.