SAWPOINTS
Woodland management starts to pay
across the UK can now turn thinned-out trees and pruning off-cuts into a profitable and environmentally sensitive income with a new, British produced kiln. Carbon Gold is the world’s leading sustainable biochar producer and is launching The Biochar Kiln 1 (CGBK1) to benefit landowners with surplus timber and pruning waste, giving them an opportunity to turn it into top quality biochar – and income. If fully utilised, the kiln will produce 3 t of biochar a month valued at approximately £900 ($1,400).
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The Biochar Kiln 1 (CGBK1) has a diameter and height of just 1.5 m (5 ft). It has been designed specifically for non-industrial use. It is fully transportable and can be used in a wide range of locations from large gardens to small woodland areas and costs £3,500 ($5,500) – a potential pay-back period of under six months. As they are easily transportable, the kilns can be used on a cooperative basis to maximise income.
The metal kiln is a simple device that
armers, woodland and estate owners, gardeners and community carbon reduction schemes in transition towns
requires no external power source; is low maintenance and easy to operate. Each kiln owner is given full training and will be supported by a helpline and web assistance. Users can start producing their own biochar immediately; it can then be used as a soil improver or sold on the commercial market. Biochar is created by heating woody matter in the absence of oxygen, a process, known as pyrolysis. This permanently captures most of the carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere if the wood were burnt or allowed to decay. Unlike traditional charcoal making methods, Carbon Gold’s kiln re- circulates and burns off harmful greenhouse gases resulting in higher temperatures and significantly lower emissions. Carbon Gold’s biochar production was
inspired by the Amazonian Indians, who used charred plant matter to enrich their poor, infertile jungle soils. This ‘Terra Preta’ – or dark earth – remains fertile thousands of years later. Modern day gardeners and growers now use biochar as an effective and environmentally friendly soil additive by mixing it with organic nutrients. Craig Sams, Chairman and Founder of Carbon
Carbon Gold Chairman Craig Sams
Gold: “Biochar production is a significant new revenue stream for woodland management by processing waste that would otherwise be left on the forest floor. This new kiln is clean technology and the first easy-to-use and cost- effective unit of its kind, doubling the yield of standard charcoal making devices. We are hoping it will make biochar accessible to the growing number of entrepreneurs anxious to capitalise in this exciting new opportunity.”
Morbark demonstrations
focus on efficiency Morbark recently demonstrated several new product innovations for the forestry and recycling markets at the company’s annual Demo Days event in Winn, Michigan
These innovations will help Morbark users streamline their processes and reduce costs. Over 300 people from fifteen countries attended the 2011 Demo Days event that featured factory tours, seminars, vendor booths, networking opportunities and equipment demonstrations. Biomass equipment demonstrations included a new Advantage 3 Drum for whole tree chippers, the 3800XL Horizontal Grinder, and several proprietary pieces of equipment in development and demonstrated for customer input and performance feedback.
Morbark Advantage 3 drum The new Advantage 3 high performance chipping drum significantly improves chip- quality in large volume wood chipping
equipment and reduces recurring wear-part and maintenance costs by more than 70%, to just a fraction of the cost of conventional chipping drums.
Morbark 3800XL Horizontal Grinder The new Morbark 3800XL horizontal grinder contains significant changes and improvements in feeding technology that dramatically increase production capacity and operating efficiency. The primary difference between this unit and all others is its redesigned reverse- pivot feed system that minimises space between the feed wheel and the hammermill. There is no place for material to hide in this unit, which keeps debris moving forward with uninterrupted, steady production.
10 International Forest Industries | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2011
A Morbark engineer talks attendees through some of the finer points of the new chippers
The recent Morbark Demo Days event in Michigan
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