Biochar plant on a farm: what it costs and earns
12.11.2026
Biochar plant on a farm: what it costs and earns
In short: A biochar plant on a farm turns wood into heat for barns and drying, biochar and, depending on the plant, electricity. In our highly simplified example, the Pyro-Hex 315 (heat only) costs around €1.7m and earns a surplus of around €344,000 a year. The Pyro-ClinX 150 (electricity and heat) costs around €3.2m and earns around €529,000. Below, we explain what pyrolysis can do on a farm and what matters.
Lucie Töpfer
Managing Director, pyropower GmbH
The example at a glance
| Pyro-Hex 315 | Pyro-ClinX 150 | |
| Produces | Heat, biochar | Electricity, heat, biochar |
| Wood chips bought in per year | 3,780 t | 3,780 t |
| Project price, net | €1.7m | €3.2m |
| Revenue per year | €0.94m | €1.1m |
| Costs per year | €0.60m | €0.58m |
| Surplus per year | €344,000 | €529,000 |
| Payback | 5.0 years | 6.1 years |
| CO₂ stored per year (calculated) | 1,720 t | 1,720 t |
Important: This is a highly simplified example based on assumptions from our profitability calculator. It is not generally valid. Every site is different, so we always calculate each project individually with your figures. We are happy to provide a detailed calculation and the exact project price for your site on request.
How the plant works
In the example, a farm with livestock and drying buys in wood chips from the region:
Example: one year of Pyro-ClinX 150 on a farm
Input ›››
3,780 t
wood chips bought in per year
Plant ›››
Pyro-ClinX 150
around 8,000 hours a year
Output per year
Electricity
600 MWh used on site, 440 MWh fed into the grid
€163,000
Heat
1,200 MWh for barns and drying
€84,000
Biochar
600 t
€600,000
CO₂ certificates
1,720 t CO₂
€258,000
Revenue: around €1.1m per year. Surplus after all costs: around €529,000 per year.
The farm uses the electricity itself first, and the rest is fed into the grid under the EEG. pyropower can buy and market the biochar and CO₂ certificates.
Returns and payback
Example Pyro-ClinX 150: revenue and costs per year
Example Pyro-ClinX 150: surplus after deducting the project price
0
5
10
15
Years of operation
Project price not yet recovered Profit
In the example, the project price is recovered after around 6.1 years. The largest cost item is the bought-in fuel.
Assumptions in the example: wood chips €100/t, electricity used on site 18 ct/kWh, fed in around 12.5 ct/kWh under the EEG, heat 7 ct/kWh, biochar €700/t, CO₂ certificates €150/t. Highly simplified, static calculation, without funding, as of 14 October 2026. Not a real customer project and not a promise of specific returns. Detailed calculation on request.
Variant: heat only with the Pyro-Hex 315
The Pyro-Hex 315 uses the same pyrolysis, but without a turbine. It produces no electricity, but up to 750 kW of heat and the same amount of biochar, at a much lower project price. In the example, the farm uses 1,200 MWh of this heat a year. If there are more heat users, such as drying for neighbouring farms, the revenue rises significantly. For larger volumes, there is the Pyro-Hex 1000 for around 1,000 kg of residues per hour instead of 315 kg.
Example Pyro-Hex 315: revenue and costs per year
Example Pyro-Hex 315: surplus after deducting the project price
0
5
10
15
Years of operation
Project price not yet recovered Profit
In the example, the project price of around €1.7m is recovered after around 5.0 years. Which plant fits better depends mainly on how much heat and how much electricity the farm needs itself.
Assumptions in the example: 1,200 MWh of heat used at 7 ct/kWh, wood chips €100/t, plant electricity demand around €34,000 per year, biochar €700/t, CO₂ certificates €150/t. Highly simplified, static calculation, without funding, as of 14 October 2026. Not a real customer project and not a promise of specific returns. Detailed calculation on request.
What pyrolysis can do on a farm
Many farms need a lot of heat: for barns, for drying grain and feed or for greenhouses. At the same time, heating oil, gas and grid electricity are expensive. A pyrolysis plant provides heat and electricity from wood and produces biochar in the process.
- Fuel: In Germany, we mainly use woody residues, for example from forestry, hedges or landscape management, delivered as wood chips.
- Biochar on the farm: Depending on its quality, it can be used in bedding, as a feed additive, in compost or in soil. What is permitted is governed by certification, for example under the European Biochar Certificate (EBC).
- Carbon sink: The carbon remains stored in the biochar for the long term. This can be certified and marketed.
Read more about applications on the farm on our Agriculture page.
What determines profitability
Whether a plant pays off depends mainly on these points:
- Residues: Your own residues cost little or nothing, bought-in wood chips cost more. Fuel is often the largest cost item.
- Heat: The more heat you use throughout the year, the faster the plant pays off.
- Electricity: Used on site, it replaces grid power, currently around 18 ct/kWh or more for industry in Germany. Fed into the grid under the EEG, it earns around 12.5 ct/kWh.
- Biochar: It is usually the largest revenue item. The price depends on quality and buyer. pyropower can buy the biochar.
- CO₂ certificates: The carbon in the biochar can be certified as a carbon sink. According to IETA, prices range from 100 to 300 US dollars per tonne.
- Funding: Depending on the project, grants are possible. The example does not include any funding.
How a project works
- Initial call and profitability check: We calculate your project with your figures. The first check is free of charge.
- Test pyrolysis: On request, we check in advance how well your residue is suited.
- Pre-project phase: Site, permits, heat and power use, biochar offtake and funding in detail.
- Quotation: with the exact project price for your site.
- Construction and operation: Planning, construction and commissioning from a single source. The plant runs fully automatically with remote monitoring.
Frequently asked questions
What does pyrolysis bring to agriculture?
Heat for barns and drying, biochar and, depending on the plant, electricity for the farm. The biochar can be sold or used on the farm.
Pyro-Hex 315 or Pyro-ClinX 150: which fits a farm better?
If you mainly need heat, the Pyro-Hex 315 costs less. If you also need a lot of electricity yourself, the Pyro-ClinX 150 is the better fit. We are happy to calculate which plant pays off better for your farm with your figures.
What does a biochar plant on a farm cost?
In the example, around €1.7m net for the Pyro-Hex 315 and around €3.2m for the Pyro-ClinX 150, each including storage, drying, discharge and project planning. We state the exact project price in our quotation.
Does the example apply to my farm?
Not automatically. The example is highly simplified. Fuel, heat demand, electricity price and biochar sales differ everywhere. We are happy to prepare a detailed calculation for your farm on request.
- Pyrolysis plant at a sawmill: what it can cost and earn
- Biomass district heating costs: what a pyrolysis plant with a boiler house can cost and earn
- Agriculture: heat, electricity and biochar for the farm
- Funding for pyrolysis plants 2026: programmes, opportunities and deadlines
- Pyro-ClinX: pyrolysis CHP for electricity, heat and biochar
Download
Pyro-ClinX brochure and data sheet
Technical data, feedstocks, products and the course of a project at a glance (PDF).
Download brochure (PDF)
info@pyro-power.com 
+49 355 866 870 82 
pyropower GmbH