FAQ

Xylowatt was initially established in order to develop electrical power production from woodchips!

• Xylo comes from Greek “xylon”. It means “wood”.
• Watt is the unit of power as defined in the International System of Units

Today, Xylowatt provides solutions to recover energy from various biofuels.

NOTAR® is the gasifier developed by Xylowatt. With our cutting-edge technology, Tar is destroyed within the gasifier. We do not produce Tar, hence NO-TAR !

“Biomass and waste” cover a broad range of materials. Therefore, there is no general answer to this question.

As far as conventional biomass feedstocks are concerned (i.e. woodchips), one NOTAR® converts around 650kg/hr of dry biomass into 2MW of syngas. A gas engine then converts the energy content of the syngas into ~ 750kWe electricity. This gasification plant also recovers 1200 kWth of heat in the form of water at 90°C.

Xylowatt typically proposes to install up to 5 NOTAR® on the same power plant.

With standardised analysis of your waste, we adapt these numbers to your specific situation and design the best suited solution.

The installation and operation of a NOTAR® gasification plant require competencies that may not be in your area of expertise.

Therefore, we not only deliver NOTAR® reactor, but also design, deliver and operate a complete gasification plant adapted to your needs.

Want to take the best out of your gasification plant? Let us handle it for you!

Yes ! While Xylowatt has been continuously optimising its core technology, the company has also built strong relationships with major industrial players and now proposes turnkey solutions worldwide. Thanks to our key partnerships and our industrial shareholders, we act as your partner; providing NOTAR® gasifier but also coordinating multiple competencies supplied by experts.

Xylowatt works with a network of qualified agents and commercial partners with experience in waste and energy sectors. Xylowatt is always happy to discuss further possibilities on new territories. Developing projects in your area?  Contact us.

Xylowatt offers solutions to convert 2500 ton/year to 25 000 ton/year of biofuel.

• If we already have experience with your kind of waste, we propose turnkey solutions adapted to your needs.

• Conversion of your waste has not yet been demonstrated on NOTAR® gasification? You can join our development plans in which you can benefit from our expertise.

Looking for a solution in this range of capacity? Contact us.

NOTAR® technology tackles the last remaining challenge of gasification development: Tar condensation in gas conditioning units. With 99.5% of tar destroyed within the gasification process, the NOTAR® produces a clean syngas at the outlet of the gasifier. With this major improvement, the gas conditioning unit is simple to design and cost effective to operate.

Pyrolysis is the first step of any downdraft gasifier:  At high temperature, pyrolysis breaks the biomass into charcoal, light gases and heavy gases (mainly consisting of Tar).

Within NOTAR® gasifier, pyrolysis step is controlled independently of other reactions zones (combustion, reduction); as a result all biomass is effectively converted into tar free charcoal. Pyrolysis gases are destroyed (including all tar) in a combustion zone physically separated from the pyrolysis and controlled independently.

As a result, reduction zone is fed with tar free reactants, producing a tar free syngas.

Gasifiers convert solid fuels into syngas. However, gasification produces small amount of solid by-products containing carbon. These by-products can be valorised as biochar or as light activated carbon.

Gasification reactions produce small amount of water (shift reaction), present in the form of vapour at the outlet of the gasifier. If the syngas is to be cooled down (i.e. for powering gas engines), water condenses in the gas conditioning unit.

With its operation & maintenance services, Xylowatt manages these by-products for you.

Thermal conversion of biomass produces solid by-products containing various concentrations of mineral matters and carbon.

• Ashes refer to a solid by-product from complete combustion of the solid feedstock. Ashes contain mineral matter initially present in the feedstock.
• Biochar refers to a solid by-product from gasification: Unlike complete combustion, mineral matters leaving the gasifier are linked to some carbon content.

NOTAR® gasifiers require feedstock with moisture content lower than 10%. However you can supply biomass with higher moisture content (up to 65%wb). In that case, we install a biomass dryer powered by thermal energy recovered on the plant!

The integration and supply of a well suited biomass dryer is part of our turnkey offers.

Biomass is generally defined as organic matter derived from living, or recently living organisms. Biomass can be used as a source of energy. Biomass most often refers to residues of forest industry and other agricultural wastes that are not used for food or feed.

Gasification was initially developed to recover the energy potential of dry biomass feedstocks but was later proved to be efficient in thermal valorisation of various biofuels (i.e. sewage sludge, agricultural residues)  and carbon derived fuel wastes such as solid recovered fuel.

A renewable solution! Valorising solid fuels through NOTAR® gasification produces a syngas that substitutes fossil fuels. By powering thermal applications with renewable syngas, you actively participate to the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere and fight greenhouse effect.

Biomass gasification is relevant for electricity production at small and medium power range (up to 20 MW). In that specific power range, gasification coupled to gas engine offers the highest electrical efficiency (>25%) while thermal applications coupled to steam cycle can offer lower yields. Biomass and waste gasification is therefore the best suited solution for developing local economy: converting local feedstocks into energy.

NOTAR® gasification offers additional technical advantages;

• ability to valorise a broader range of biomass and waste fuels
• avoiding clinkering and sintering, flexibility of power output
• production of clean syngas that drastically simplifies exhaust gas treatment

Yes! Xylowatt proposes to upgrade your facilities to the NOTAR® plant you need. However, we usually recommend replacing both gasifier and gas conditioning unit (GCU). Check out our swap solution.

NOTAR® gasification plants tackle two major local problems: elimination of local waste and cost of energy. By converting local feedstock into energy you lower your costs and you create new revenues (i.e. selling electricity on the grid). Energy produced through NOTAR® gasification is renewable and is supported by your local renewable energy support policies.

This model of circular economy is also an opportunity to increase your energy independence and it creates local employment.

NOTAR® gasification plants should be installed in industrialised areas, with ease of access, connection to stable electrical grid, landline phone connection, and operating running water supply.