Our innovative autonomous farm has just been featured on France’s top travel TV show Échappés Belles. It showcased not only our regenerative agricultural practices but also the groundbreaking technology we’ve adopted: the BioGS micro-cogeneration plant. This impressive system was installed last year and has quickly become a crucial component of our sustainability efforts.
The BioGS plant is not your average energy generator. Using locally sourced wood pellets, it provides a virtually limitless supply of heat and light, but with an innovative twist. Instead of burning the wood pellets, the BioGS transforms them into biochar. This process leaves only water vapor as waste, emitted through a simple plastic outlet. As a result, our energy generation is entirely carbon-neutral—actually, we’re proud to say, it’s carbon-negative.
What Is Biochar and Why Is It So Valuable?
Biochar is a stable form of carbon created by heating organic materials in a low-oxygen environment. Not only does this sequester carbon that would otherwise be released as CO₂, but biochar has valuable uses in agriculture and beyond. We incorporate the biochar produced by the BioGS into our garden soil, boosting vegetable yields by up to 20% and enhancing soil fertility. This carbon-rich byproduct enriches the soil, encouraging better plant growth while helping to restore soil health. The versatility of biochar also makes it an excellent solution for agro-economic and industrial applications, meaning it has great potential beyond farming.
A Glimpse into the Future of Carbon-Neutral Energy
By using locally sourced biomass, systems like the BioGS allow us to repurpose natural materials and harness their energy without the pollution that typically comes from burning fuel. As many experts suggest, biochar production could be a key component in achieving a carbon-neutral society. Imagine a world where we use biomass not to burn but to create biochar, generating energy from the gas released during the process. This could mark a significant shift away from fossil fuels and toward sustainable, renewable energy sources.
Our small but beautiful micro co-generator turns woody waste into usable electricity and hot water and helps fertilize the soil. Think about that for a minute. The machine shows us how today’s technology can liberate us all from our unhealthy dependence on oil and gas and nuclear energy using the waste wood from our forests, typically left to rot. We’re excited to see where innovations like this will lead in the future. Our farm recently took a significant step toward sustainability by installing a state-of-the-art micro-cogeneration plant, the BioGS by Kira Technology. This innovative system uses wood pellets to generate heat and light, while producing biochar as a byproduct—a sustainable method that not only makes us carbon-neutral but actually carbon-negative. By utilizing local biomass, we’ve unlocked a reliable, eco-friendly energy source with lasting benefits for both agriculture and the environment.
Our center has just been featured on France’s much loved & feel-good travel show Échappées Belles (+1 million viewers on average)
Click below to register and watch. The 6 min segment starts around 1 HR 13 mins.
Échappées Belles
English