Industrial gas engines maintain an electrical efficiency of 32% to 38% even at the 1 MW scale. More electrons per ton of feedstock. Piston engines operate at much lower RPMs (1,000 to 1,500 RPM) and have heavier metallurgy. They are fundamentally built to handle the thermal and fuel variations common to biomass gasification. Unlike turbines, which become highly inefficient when throttled down, an ICE can drop to 50% capacity during low-feedstock periods while retaining strong operational efficiency.
ICE systems leverage mass-manufactured industrial engine blocks (adapted from natural gas/biogas lines), radically lowering upfront CAPEX.
Localized Supply Chain: Any standard industrial heavy-machinery technician can service a gas engine. You do not need highly specialized, high-cost aerospace technicians flown in for turbine overhauls, slashing your long-term OPEX.
The Biochar Advantage in an ICE System
Ultra-Clean Fuel Stream: Because biochar has already been devolatilized (the tars have been baked out), gasifying it yields a hydrogen-rich syngas with near-zero tar content.
Engine Longevity: This ultra-clean syngas removes the number-one historic point of failure for gas engines (tar condensation on intake valves), resulting in extended runtimes, fewer oil changes, and maximum plant uptime.
By choosing a syngas-optimized Internal Combustion Engine, we are aligning with proven industrial physics. Engines give us up to 38% electrical efficiency at 1 MW—the highest in the industry. Because we are using biochar or high-char biomass, the syngas will be incredibly low in tar, meaning this engine will run cleaner and longer than a standard biomass setup.
Financially, an ICE utilizes standard industrial components. This keeps our upfront CAPEX low, ensures spare parts are readily available globally, and allows local technicians to handle maintenance. If we want this 1 MW plant to be a highly profitable, reliable asset rather than an expensive science experiment, the Internal Combustion Engine is the only logical choice.
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