Modular pyrolysis plants that convert biomass into green gas, electricity, heat and REACH-certified biochar.
autarkize GmbH
Biessenhofen (business address, pre-series plant) · Pfronten (registered office)New on Amplifa
About autarkize
autarkize GmbH, based in the Allgäu region, develops and manufactures modular pyrolysis plants that convert biogenic residual materials such as pomace, digestate, sewage sludge, green waste, mill residues and waste wood into energy-rich pyrolysis gas and certified biochar. The plants are delivered as compact container solutions (shipping containers) with an output of up to 2.5 megawatts and can be integrated directly into existing infrastructures such as industrial processes, heating networks or biogas plants. Per plant and year, up to 4,500 tonnes of biomass with around 80 % dry matter can be processed; this yields up to 9.5 GWh of green gas or 2.9 GWh of electricity plus 5.3 GWh of heat, as well as up to 900 tonnes of biochar. The patented technology originates from an inventor with over 25 years of experience in building multi-fuel gasifiers and was developed by autarkize to production readiness. Core components are a combustion and carbonization unit, a gas conditioning unit (GCU) for gas cleaning, and a flue gas heat exchanger. Customers and partners come from agriculture, viticulture and fruit growing, industry, municipal heating networks, biogas and the climate tech sector (CDR certificates). At the Biessenhofen site, the company operates a pre-series plant; the registered office is in Pfronten.
- Site
- Biessenhofen
- Processes
- Pyrolysis/carbonization and gasification of biomass, Gas conditioning/gas cleaning, Electricity and heat generation from pyrolysis gas (CHP), Heat and steam generation for industrial processes, Production of biochar certified according to REACH, Pyrolysis plants for converting biomass into pyrolysis gas and biochar, Generation of electricity, gas and heat from pyrolysis gas, Gas conditioning / gas cleaning
- Materials
- Wood chips, Pomace, Digestate, Sewage sludge, Green waste, Mill residues, Waste wood, Landscape management material
- Certificates
- REACH (certification of the biochar in accordance with the EU chemicals, REACH (biochar)
- Founded
- 2021
- Employees
- 26 (team list: 26
- Industries
- Agriculture (viticulture and fruit growing), Industry (process heat/decarbonization), Biogas plants, Heating networks / municipal heat supply, Municipalities / biomass utilization, Construction (sustainable building)
- 01
Input of biogenic residual materials (e.g. pomace, digestate, sewage sludge,
- 02
Preheating of the biomass
- 03
Combustion and carbonization (pyrolysis)
- 04
Pre-cleaning and gas conditioning (GCU)
- 05
Output of biochar
- 06
Energy generation from pyrolysis gas (electricity, heat, steam)
- 07
Marketing of CDR-CO2 certificates and certified biochar
Feedstocks & Processes
Pyrolysis / Carbonization
Controlled pyrolysis converts carbon-containing biomass into pyrolysis gas and biochar.
Gas Conditioning / Gas Cleaning
Innovative gas conditioning produces gas with an energy density comparable to biogas, suitable for base and peak load.
Electricity and Heat Generation from Pyrolysis Gas
The pyrolysis gas (approx. 25 % H2, 30 % CO, 15 % CH4, 25 % CO2) is compatible with standard technology for electricity and heat generation.
Flue Gas Heat Exchanger / Heat and Steam Generation
Produces process heat and steam for industrial applications and heating networks.
Wood Chips
Reference feedstock with 4 kWh/kg at 80 % dry matter.
Pomace
Biogenic residual material from viticulture and fruit growing as a feedstock for pyrolysis.
Digestate
Residual materials from biogas plants are converted into energy and biochar.
Sewage Sludge
Municipal residual material previously disposed of at high cost, used as pyrolysis input.
Green Waste and Landscape Management Material
Municipal biomass for decentralized on-site utilization.
Waste Wood, Mill Residues, Husks and Shells
Previously underutilized biomass streams as low-cost feedstocks.
Vineyard and Tree Prunings
High-quality feedstock from viticulture and fruit-growing operations.
Biochar
REACH-certified product for soil improvement and as a permanent CO2 sink.
Sites
Biessenhofen
DEBusiness address and site of the pre-series plant (An der Säge 3)
- Materials
- Biomass residues, biochar
- Pre-series plant (multi-fuel gasifier, up to 2.5 MW)
- GCU (Gas Conditioning Unit)
- Combustion / carbonization unit
- Flue gas heat exchanger
Pfronten
DERegistered office
Products & Plant Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrolysis/carbonization and gasification of biomassHeat treatment | – | – | 4,500 tonnes of biomass per year | – | Pomace, Digestate, Sewage sludge, Green waste, Mill residues, Waste wood, Wood chips, Landscape management material, Husks, Shells, Vineyard and tree prunings |
| Gas conditioning/gas cleaningSurface | – | – | – | – | Pyrolysis gas |
| Electricity and heat generation from pyrolysis gas (CHP)Engineering | – | – | – | – | Pyrolysis gas (approx. 25 % H2, 30 % CO, 15 % CH4, 25 % CO2) |
| Heat and steam generation for industrial processesEngineering | – | – | – | – | Pyrolysis gas |
| Production of biochar certified according to REACHHeat treatment | – | – | 900 tonnes of biochar per year | 400 tonnes – 900 tonnes | Biochar |
5 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pyrolysis plant (multi-fuel gasifier, modular in shipping containers) | autarkize | – | Output up to 2.5 megawatts; input up to 4,500 t biomass/year (grain size < 45 mm, +/- 80 % | – | Biessenhofen / Pfronten |
| Pre-series plant | autarkize | 1 | – | – | Biessenhofen |
| GCU (Gas Conditioning Unit) | autarkize | – | – | – | – |
| Combustion / carbonization unit | autarkize | – | – | – | – |
| Flue gas heat exchanger | autarkize | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
autarkize's biochar is certified in accordance with the EU chemicals regulation REACH and therefore meets high standards of environmental compatibility, safety and transparency; CDR certificates are issued through quality-assured processes.
| Evidence | Biessenhofen |
|---|---|
| REACH (biochar) |
History
- 2021
Michel Konder and Sophie Peter, together with other companions, found 'Kohlekumpels' to promote the use of biochar in agriculture.
- 2024
The birth of autarkize: acquisition of a patented pyrolysis technology from an inventor with over 25 years of experience ('multi-fuel gasifier') for development to production readiness; seed financing of EUR 2.3 million (10/2024) led by High-Tech Gründerfonds.
- 2025
Inclusion in the SET100 List 2025 (Top 100 cleantech startups worldwide) and REACH certification for biochar.
- 2026
First factory tour at the new Biessenhofen site with the pre-series plant.