Example 01
Verge along a footpath
A compacted, bare strip was restored with a biochar substrate. A few months later, the area is densely planted.
Image: Cecilia Lane
BeforeDuringAfterBuy biochar for commercial use
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[ Biochar ]
From woody residues, for agriculture, growing media, building materials and industry.
[ A carbon-rich material ]
Biochar explained briefly
Biochar is produced by pyrolysis: biogenic residues such as wood are heated in the absence of oxygen. A large part of the carbon that the plants absorbed from the air as they grew is converted into a stable form. The result is a porous material with a large internal surface.
This structure makes biochar useful in many applications: it stores water and nutrients, binds pollutants and can be incorporated into building materials and plastics. The principle is old: the black earth terra preta in the Amazon region owes much of its fertility to biochar worked into the soil.
This carbon makes biochar a CO₂ sink: depending on its carbon content, one tonne binds up to around 3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. If the carbon stays bound in its application and the whereabouts of the biochar are documented, this storage can be certified. If required, we take care of certification and marketing of the CO₂ certificates.
Personal
Our story with biochar
At pyropower, you talk to the people who produce your biochar. Lucie Töpfer has been working on pyrolysis and biochar since her university studies, and Sebastian Kießling has been developing decentralised energy plants for more than 15 years.
Turning what is left over into something valuable.
Our answer is a system in which nothing is lost. Wood residues from the region are turned into electricity, heat and biochar at the same time. The value stays in the region. That is why we sell our biochar ourselves: you deal directly with us, without intermediaries.
Under the microscope
The pore network of biochar
During pyrolysis, the cell structure of the wood is preserved as a fine pore network. A single gram of biochar can have an internal surface area of several hundred square metres.
- Stores waterThe pores absorb water and release it slowly.
- Holds nutrientsNutrients attach to the internal surface instead of being washed out.
- Provides habitatMicroorganisms find shelter in the pores and bring the soil to life.
100×magnified
1Growth2Water storage3Humus4Loosening5Nutrients6Groundwater protectionEffect
Biochar in soil
In soil, the pore network acts as a reservoir for water and nutrients.
- 1Stronger plantsMore water and nutrients at the roots.
- 2Better through dry spellsThe pores store water.
- 3Humus formationOrganic matter remains stable.
- 4Looser soilBetter aeration.
- 5Fertiliser lasts longerNutrients are released slowly.
- 6Less leachingLess nitrate in the groundwater.
The effect depends on the soil, on how the biochar is worked in and on how it is prepared.
What research shows
Biochar is well researched. Meta-analyses and pilot plants show what it can achieve in soil, compost, concrete and wastewater.
+51%
more field capacity on average in coarse, sandy soils. How strong the effect is depends on the soil type.
−36%
ammonia, −50% nitrous oxide and −54% methane on average when biochar is added during composting.
+7%
compressive strength after 28 days on average when up to 2.5 percent of the binder is replaced with biochar.
91%
average removal of 12 micropollutants with activated biochar in a pilot plant at a wastewater treatment plant in Luxembourg.
Source: Interreg project WOW!, 2023
Example
Before and after
Two examples that show what biochar can change in soil. Move your mouse over the images.
BeforeDuringAfter
WithoutbiocharWithbiocharVSExamples for illustration. How strongly biochar works depends on soil, climate, preparation and care.
Biochar for your industry
Every industry has its own requirements for quality, grain size and quantity. The industry pages describe effects, fields of application and research results in detail.
+51
On top of that, there are 51 further applications, from filters to batteries.
Based on H.-P. Schmidt: 55 uses of biochar, Ithaka Journal 2012.
Quality you can verify
We produce our biochar in line with the EBC standard and make its quality transparent for you.
- 1FeedstockUntreated woody residues from the region with documented origin.
- 2ProcessContinuous pyrolysis at 650 to 800 °C for consistent properties.
- 3AnalysesRegular laboratory analyses. The values for your batch are available on request.
- 4OriginProduced in Lusatia and delivered directly by the manufacturer.
Biochar in an XXL big bag
Our biochar at a glance. Tell us the quantity and delivery location, and we will get back to you with an offer and the analysis values.
€460per big bag- Feedstock
- Untreated forest residues and landscape maintenance wood from the region
- Production
- Continuous pyrolysis at 650 to 800 °C in the Pyro-ClinX
- Quality
- In line with the EBC standard, H/Corg below 0.7
- Grain size
- Matched to the application, from fine to coarse
- Bulk density
- Around 250 kg per m³
- Packaging
- XXL big bag with 1.8 m³, around 450 kg. Loose goods on request
- Price
- €460 per big bag plus shipping and VAT, volume discount from 5 big bags
- Available
- From early December 2026
- Analyses
- Laboratory values for your batch come with the offer
Request a big bag, sample or data sheet
Non-binding. We usually reply within two working days.
Frequently asked questions about biochar
01 What is biochar?
Biochar is a carbon-rich material produced from biogenic residues by pyrolysis. The carbon that the plants previously absorbed from the air is converted into a stable form.
02 What is biochar used for?
As a soil improver and substrate additive, as feed char and bedding, in tree substrates following the sponge city principle, as an additive in concrete, asphalt and plastics, and as a filter and adsorption medium.
03 Does your biochar meet the EBC standard?
We produce in line with the requirements of the European Biochar Certificate (EBC). Certification is per production site. Which class is achieved depends on the residue used. You will receive the current status and the analysis values with the offer.
04 How much does biochar cost per tonne?
The price depends on EBC class, grain size, preparation and quantity. We quote prices on request and agree fixed contingents for annual quantities.
05 How long does biochar store carbon?
The stable fraction of the carbon remains bound for centuries. Decisive factors are the pyrolysis temperature and the ratio of hydrogen to organic carbon (H/Corg), which must be below 0.7 according to the EBC.
06 How are CO₂ certificates generated from biochar?
If the carbon stays bound in its application and the whereabouts of the biochar are documented, the carbon storage can be certified as a C-sink according to a recognised standard. An independent body verifies this, and the certificates are recorded in a registry.
07 Can I produce biochar myself?
Yes. With the Pyro-ClinX pyrolysis plant you produce around 75 kg of biochar per hour while generating 150 kW of power (gross) and max. 450 kW of heat. You can use your own wood residues for this.
08 Does pyropower take my biochar?
Yes. If you wish, there are two options for operators of a Pyro-ClinX: we market the biochar on your behalf or buy it at an agreed price. We provide the conditions on request.
09 What does biochar have to do with terra preta?
Terra preta is a very fertile black earth from the Amazon region. Its fertility is largely due to biochar worked into the soil. The principle is a model for today's soil applications.
010 Which EBC classes are there?
The EBC distinguishes classes by intended use: EBC-FeedPlus for feeding and bedding, EBC-AgroBio for organic farming, EBC-Agro for agriculture and horticulture, EBC-Urban for tree substrates and green spaces, EBC-Materials for products with consumer contact and EBC-Basic for industrial processing. Which class your biochar achieves depends on the residue used. We define the specification together with you.
011 Who supplies biochar in Germany?
pyropower supplies biochar in line with the EBC standard, with deliveries starting in December 2026, for example in XXL big bags. Which EBC class is achieved depends on the feedstock; all classes up to feed grade are possible. Enquiries for agriculture, livestock farming, building materials and industry go directly through the contact form.
info@pyro-power.com 
+49 355 866 870 82 
pyropower GmbH