Disruptive technology for the energy transition: Electricity, heat, and CO₂ storage combined in a single system

Generating electricity while simultaneously removing CO₂ from the atmosphere—what sounds like a contradiction is made possible by pyropower GmbH with Pyro-ClinX. The system transforms wood waste into green energy while storing carbon in the form of biochar. With this approach, pyropower offers a novel solution for the energy transition: decentralized, economically viable, and measurably climate-positive. For this pioneering method, the company has now been nominated for the Berlin-Brandenburg Innovation Prize 2025.

In the pyrolysis reactor, wood residues are converted into pyrolysis gas and solid biochar in the absence of oxygen. The gas is combusted flamelessly in a FLOX burner; the resulting heat drives the micro gas turbine via external firing to generate electricity—completely without direct contact between the combustion gas and the turbine mechanics. The turbine’s exhaust heat is recirculated back into the burner, significantly increasing overall efficiency. The resulting biochar binds CO₂ long-term and can be utilized in a variety of applications.

Unlike existing pyrolysis providers, who mostly focus on either heat or biochar, Pyro-ClinX integrates electricity generation directly into the process for the first time. The system can retrofit existing pyrolysis plants and is modularly scalable for municipalities, commercial zones, and industrial applications. At the same time, it offers an economically attractive solution in the context of rising CO₂ prices, energy insecurity, and tightening regulatory requirements.

The jury for the Berlin-Brandenburg Innovation Prize, chaired by Prof. Oliver Günther, Ph.D., President of the University of Potsdam, selected the ten best innovations in the capital region as nominees from a pool of 106 applications.

The award ceremony, where the final winners will be announced, will take place on November 28, 2025.

With the Innovation Prize, the states of Berlin and Brandenburg annually honor innovative and outstanding entrepreneurial achievements. By involving commercial enterprises and other institutions as private partners, the award is also a prize presented by the business community, for the business community. Since it was first established in 1984 in West Berlin (and jointly with Brandenburg since 1992), more than 180 winners have been honored from over 4,560 applications.

Press Release