Frequently asked questions

BioGS-1.0 is a micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) system for domestic and small utilities use.
It combines biomass pyrolytic gasification with Stirling engine technology to produce electrical energy, hot water and biochar, with a carbon negative footprint.

Micro-cogeneration is a technology that simultaneously produces electrical energy and heat from a single fuel.
In BioGS-1.0, biomass is converted into syngas through gasification, and the gas obtained powers a Stirling engine that generates electrical energy. The heat produced by the process is recovered for space heating and domestic hot water, significantly increasing the overall efficiency of the system.

A traditional pellet stove only produces heat and requires electrical energy to operate.
BioGS-1.0, instead, converts biomass into syngas through gasification and uses a Stirling engine to generate both electrical energy and heat. It also produces biochar, a byproduct that can be used in agriculture to improve soil quality and sequester carbon.

Electrical energy can be produced from wood through biomass gasification.
BioGS-1.0 converts pellets and other plant biomass into syngas, a combustible gas that powers a Stirling engine. This way, biomass is used not only to produce heat but also to generate renewable electrical energy.

BioGS-1.0 is very compact because it is designed for smaller and distributed applications.
The dimensions of the main body are 100 × 52 × H 130 cm; the 2 biomass and biochar tanks protrude from the main unit by 120 and 75 cm respectively.
To adapt to any type of room, you can freely choose the position of the tanks on the 3 available sides.

BioGS-1.0 runs on pellets or a mix of pellets and small quantities of fine wood chips, dry fruit shells, stone fruit pits, etc.
No certified pellets are required, the fuel can consist of a wide range of organic plant materials: agricultural waste, forestry residues, processing by-products, etc.

Wood chips are a highly variable material, their characteristics depend on the type of wood, moisture content at chipping, machinery used, etc.
Unfortunately, BioGS-1.0, being very compact, is unable to process a material with such variability, so using only wood chips is not possible.

BioGS-1.0 can use pellets obtained from various plant materials and can work with some biomass derived from agricultural residues or agroforestry processing, once suitably prepared.
This makes it possible to make use of local byproducts, reducing waste and creating energy from renewable resources.

BioGS-1.0 is designed for homes, farms, agritourism businesses, small production facilities and other buildings with a significant and continuous need for heat and electrical energy.
The solution is particularly attractive where local biomass is available or where increasing energy autonomy is desired.

Yes. Solar panels and BioGS-1.0 are complementary technologies.
Solar panels produce energy when sunlight is available, while BioGS-1.0 can generate electrical energy and heat on demand, even during winter, in the evening or on cloudy days. Combining the two systems increases the building's energy autonomy.

BioGS-1.0 features an in-house developed electronic control system and comes with PC software and a mobile app that enable remote monitoring and control.

No. BioGS-1.0 is designed to require scheduled maintenance every 3,000 operating hours, or once a year.
In addition, the remote monitoring system makes it possible to constantly check the status of the plant and plan preventive maintenance, reducing the risk of unplanned downtime.
After correct installation and commissioning, routine management is limited to filling the biomass tank and emptying the biochar container, operations to be carried out on average every 60 operating hours.

This is a request we receive often, but in practice it is not a realistic modification.
The Stirling engine is not a component that can simply be "added" to an existing stove: it requires a combustion chamber sized for the engine's specific heat exchange, a cooling circuit on the cold side, a control system that coordinates combustion and the generator, and safety checks on the whole assembly.
These are all elements that need to be designed together with the stove from the outset, not grafted onto an appliance conceived only for heating. This is why every commercial solution currently available is a factory-integrated product, not a conversion kit for stoves already in use.
Anyone who already owns a pellet stove and wants to add electricity production should therefore consider a standalone micro-cogeneration system, not a modification of the existing one.

Yes. BioGS-1.0 is a biomass micro-cogeneration system that converts wood into syngas through gasification and uses a Stirling engine to generate electrical energy.
The recovered heat is used for space heating and domestic hot water production. This way, a single system can cover the building's thermal and electrical needs at the same time, with an overall efficiency above 94%.

Our micro-CHP is a low-power system, but working up to 24 hours a day it can produce a considerable amount of energy.
Maximum daily electrical output is up to 24 kWh, while the thermal capacity is 140 kWh per day, equivalent to approximately 14 Sm³ of natural gas.

Yes, it is possible and many of our customers already are.
The crucial factor in achieving independence is the energy mix. BioGS-1.0 can operate alongside other energy sources, and for those who want maximum autonomy, we recommend pairing it with a small photovoltaic system, which is particularly useful in summer months. Any other energy source (electrical and thermal) is fully compatible (wind, other boilers, etc.), the choice depends essentially on the location and type of energy demand to be met.

Yes, BioGS-1.0 can operate in both on-grid and off-grid configurations.
In both cases a battery storage inverter is required: on one hand to absorb and manage the energy produced by the system, on the other to supply the AC voltage needed for the start-up procedures.

Solar panels generate energy only when sunlight is available.
BioGS-1.0, on the other hand, can operate regardless of weather conditions and time of day, producing electrical energy and heat on demand. This makes it a particularly effective complement to solar panel systems.

BioGS-1.0 works with energy storage: a battery for the electrical side and a puffer tank for the thermal side.
The peak power required is therefore not supplied exclusively by the micro-cogenerator, but also drawn from the battery.
This way, the available power is very high and depends essentially on how the inverter with storage is sized.

BioGS-1.0 simultaneously produces thermal energy and electrical energy using woody biomass as fuel.
The savings depend on the building's energy consumption and the cost of the energy sources currently in use, but the main advantage is the ability to replace or supplement both the boiler and the electrical energy purchased from the grid. For a personalized assessment, you can request an analysis of your energy needs.

The convenience depends on energy consumption, the cost of biomass and local energy prices.
In general, micro-cogeneration is especially attractive when there is a simultaneous need for electrical energy and heat, because it makes it possible to make use of all the energy contained in the fuel and reduce purchases from the electrical grid.

The cost depends on the price of the biomass used, the system's operating hours and operating conditions.
In many cases, local biomass energy production can be more stable and predictable than buying energy from fossil sources subject to market fluctuations.

The capacity of the storage (battery) doesn't depend only on average daily consumption, but also on how the energy is used over the course of the day and the power required by appliances that may run at the same time.
Correct sizing takes into account both consumption and power peaks, ensuring autonomy and efficiency without oversizing the system.

If the stored thermal energy isn't enough to cover demand, a backup source kicks in, normally an electric heating element.
In a correctly designed system, this situation occurs only occasionally and doesn't represent the usual mode of operation, just a safety backup.

Not necessarily. Appliances can be used manually at the most favourable times, or managed automatically through timers or energy management systems (EMS).
Automation makes it possible to make the best use of the energy produced and stored, reducing waste without requiring daily intervention from the user.
In addition, thanks to BioGS it's possible to implement customised home automation or industrial automation solutions, capable of automatically managing loads based on energy availability and the system's specific requirements.

BioGS-1.0 can operate independently from the power grid, continuously producing electrical energy and heat regardless of the presence or stability of the external supply.
In the event of an unstable grid or frequent interruptions, the system ensures continuity of service for critical loads, reducing the impact of blackouts on daily activity.
It also integrates with storage batteries to cover demand peaks and maintain a stable supply in every condition.

Yes. BioGS-1.0 runs on pellets or a mix of pellets and wood chips, dried fruit shells, stone fruit pits, etc.
It is therefore a suitable solution for rural buildings, mountain lodges, refuges or isolated homes not reached by the gas grid, where it produces both electrical energy and heat for space heating and domestic hot water from the same fuel source.

Yes, when it comes from sustainably managed supply chains.
Biomass is derived from plant material that absorbed CO2 while growing. Using agricultural, forestry or wood-processing residues makes it possible to make use of local resources while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

No. BioGS-1.0 uses a controlled gasification and energy conversion process that keeps particulate and other major pollutant emissions very low.
In addition, biochar production contributes to stable carbon sequestration, improving the system's overall environmental balance.

BioGS-1.0 enables carbon sequestration of 100g per kilogram of biomass processed and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 300g.
Pollutant and particulate emissions are very low (PM10: <0.9 g/GJ).
Considering the full life cycle of the plants, from growth to use and transformation, the effect is to capture CO2 from the atmosphere and fix it in a stable solid form: biochar.

Biochar is a carbon-rich solid by-product of the gasification process. Inside the BioGS, a gas (syngas) is extracted from the biomass and used to produce energy. What remains after this process is a material containing part of the carbon from the original biomass in a highly stable form, which is thus removed from the natural biological decomposition cycle; this material is called biochar. BioGS produces high-quality biochar:
- Total organic carbon: 96.6%
- Dry residue: 99.1%
- pH: 10.4
- Total nitrogen: 0.26%
- Germination index: 97.2%
- Water retention: 156%
Thanks to biochar production, the BioGS cogeneration process is carbon negative, as it permanently removes CO2 from the atmosphere.

Yes. During the gasification process, part of the carbon contained in the biomass is converted into biochar, a highly stable form of carbon that can be incorporated into the soil for long periods.
This contributes to carbon sequestration and makes the system particularly attractive from a climate perspective.

Biochar produced by the BioGS-1.0 can be used as a natural soil amendment for gardens, vegetable plots and agricultural land. Thanks to its highly porous structure, it helps improve soil quality, increasing water retention capacity, promoting aeration and supporting the development of beneficial soil microflora.

For best results, it is advisable to activate (or "charge") the biochar before use. Simply mix it with mature compost, manure or liquid organic fertilizers and let it rest for a few weeks: this allows the pores of the material to become saturated with nutrients and microorganisms, ready to be released gradually into the soil.

Besides agricultural use, biochar can also be used as:
- animal bedding, thanks to its ability to absorb moisture and odors
- a filtering material for water and air
- a resource for carbon removal projects and carbon credit generation, when produced in adequate quantities and according to the required standards

In this way, biochar becomes not only a valuable ally for soil fertility, but also a concrete tool for reducing CO2 emissions.