Biobattery – Decentralized Production of Fuel from Forest and Agricultural Waste

Several production technologies transform biomass into bio-oil by pyrolysis, the heating of material in the absence of oxygen. However, conventional pyrolysis technologies produce low quality bio-oil and are mostly being developed for large-scale centralized facilities. The project, led by Dr. Amit Kumar, is a pilot-scale assessment of the “biobattery” concept. The biobattery is based on the patented thermo-catalytic reforming (TCR®) technology, developed at the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany, to produce higher quality bio-oil, char, and gases. The pilot evaluated intermediate pyrolysis of woodchips and straw biomass to produce biojet fuel and char for power generation. This project will help commercialize the use of forest and agricultural residue, diversify Alberta’s economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.