The pyrolysis prototype aims to evaluate the production of biochar and pyrolysis gases for energy and agronomic applications. The principle is based on the conversion of various raw materials (biomass, digestate and agricultural residues) under perfectly controlled pyrolysis conditions (temperature, heating rate and atmosphere) which allow the optimized conversion of carbon from biosourced raw materials to both applications. It is thus estimated that around 50% of the carbon in the resource should be reintroduced into the soil (biochar) and 50% into combustible gaseous products (light and heavy pyrolysis gases).

The pyrolysis reactor is installed on the Energy Platform of BioWooEB Unit. It has a capacity of 70 L/day. It will be modified to take into account the particularities of the raw materials and equipped with a module allowing the production of biochars and the combustion of gases. The produced biochars will be used in greenhouse agronomic trials and the crops/soils will be evaluated for their agronomic performance and carbon sequestration. CIRAD will be responsible for the design, operation of FP4 and for the agronomic trials.