Onnu, a company specializing in biomass pyrolysis, has announced a partnership with Agrotech Bioenergy to implement its CarboFlow technology across large-scale plantations in Southeast Asia. This initiative aims to address the significant agricultural waste generated in Malaysia, which includes empty fruit bunches, kernel shells, and felled trunks. Traditionally, these materials decompose in the fields, a process that can take up to five years and results in the release of carbon dioxide, while also occupying valuable land.
The CarboFlow technology offers a more sustainable alternative by converting agricultural residues into renewable energy and biochar through pyrolysis. This process not only sequesters carbon in the form of biochar, which can enhance soil health and reduce the need for fertilizers, but also generates renewable heat and green electricity for local use.
The partnership aims to utilize approximately 900,000 tonnes of agricultural waste annually, targeting the sequestration of 360,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent each year and producing 180,000 tonnes of biochar. The energy generated from the pyrolysis process will also be used to power a torrefaction plant, which will produce black pellets as a substitute for coal, further contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions by an estimated 1.3 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually.
This shift from a linear waste disposal model to a circular economy approach is expected to provide multiple benefits, including improved soil regeneration and energy independence for plantation operators. The CarboFlow system is designed to be affordable, modular, and high-capacity, making it suitable for widespread adoption in the region.
Onnu, founded in 2022, aims to unlock the commercial potential of biomass pyrolysis, addressing the challenges faced by project developers in the past. The collaboration with Agrotech Bioenergy is a significant step towards demonstrating the viability and benefits of this technology in Southeast Asia’s agricultural sector.
This article was submitted via the World of Renewables press desk.
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