What PyroNam does

PyroNam (legal name: Pyrogenic Carbon Capture and Storage Namibia (Pty) Ltd.) is a Namibian private company and wholly-owned subsidiary of German startup PyroCCS GmbH, founded in 2021 by Carlos Arrufat and Timo Herbrand. The company addresses three problems in parallel: bush encroachment on Namibian savanna, degrading soils and food security, and rural unemployment, by converting FSC-certified encroacher bush biomass into high-quality biochar via proprietary pyrolysis technology at plants it builds and operates on leased farmer land.

The technical core is a semi-industrial pyrolysis process that converts dry bush biomass into biochar (capacity >1,000 t/year per plant), wood tar, and wood vinegar, while recycling smoke and wood gas internally to minimize waste. Each plant is designed to run 24/7 across three shifts for 330 days a year with ~21 employees, inputting >3,000 t of dry FSC-certified bush biomass and removing >2,000 t of CO2 annually, with carbon stabilization reported up to ~1,000 years. The single operational pilot plant at Farm Waltershagen near Otjiwarongo was inaugurated in September 2023.

Revenue is generated primarily through the sale of EBC-certified Carbon C-Sink certificates to international buyers, supplemented by biochar (sold as a soil amendment, with priority to supplying farmers), wood vinegar, wood tar, and biomass purchase transactions from farmers. GTM is sales-led and event-driven: a Farmer Partnership Program leases land, builds and operates plants at company expense, and buys biomass by weight, supported by plant open days, agricultural media coverage, and UN SDG-aligned communications. Customers span Namibian farmers (SMB, biomass suppliers and biochar recipients), international carbon credit buyers (enterprise), agricultural producers using biochar as a soil amendment, and land remediation projects. PyroNam's stated roadmap targets five more plants in 2024, 350 plants by 2028, and 1,000 plants by 2035, positioning the asset as a scalable carbon dioxide removal platform in the Global South.

Name

PyroNam

Legal name

Pyrogenic Carbon Capture and Storage Namibia (Pty) Ltd.

Website

https://pyronam.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Namibian biochar producer that converts encroaching bush biomass into soil amendment and certified carbon removal credits via proprietary pyrolysis, using a farmer land-lease and biomass-supply partnership model across southern Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carbon Removal and Biochar Production

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Compost Manufacturing (325315), Forest Nurseries and Gathering of Forest Products (113210)

SIC

Forestry (800), Agricultural Services (700), Wholesale-Farm Product Raw Materials (5150)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochar Production & Soil/Material Applications (EUABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application) (EUABABAH), Biochar, Activated Carbon & Soil Amendments (from forest biomass) (IMAMALAH), Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Conditioners (AFABADAD), Organic & Bio-based Fertilizers (Manure/Compost/Biochar) (IMAEAEAF), Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Builders (AFABAKAG)

Keywords

• Biochar production
• Carbon dioxide removal
• Pyrolysis technology
• Soil amendment products
• Carbon credit sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Windhoek

HQ country

Namibia

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Carbon Credit Sales: PyroNam generates primary revenue through sale of carbon credits to international companies. Each plant removes up to 2,000 tons of CO2 per year, financed through carbon certificate sales to emitters obligated to reduce or compensate for emissions.
2. Biochar Sales: Biochar is sold as soil amendment to farmers, with priority given to farmers who originally supplied biomass. Remaining biochar is distributed to other agricultural producers or land remediation projects.
3. Biomass Purchase: PyroNam purchases bush biomass from farmers at a defined rate per weight. Farmers are paid for delivering biomass to the pyrolysis plant, creating a revenue channel for debushing operations.
4. By-product Sales (Wood Tar and Wood Vinegar): The condensed tars and smoke produced during biochar production yield additional by-products with market value including wood vinegar which is applied as pest repellent and growth stimulant in regenerative agriculture.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PyroNam operates pyrolysis plants that convert FSC-certified encroacher bush biomass from Namibian farmland into high-quality biochar, wood tar, and wood vinegar. Its primary commercial offerings are biochar sold as a soil amendment to farmers and EBC-certified carbon removal certificates sold to international companies. The company runs plants under a farmer partnership model where it leases land and purchases bush biomass from farmers, who then receive biochar and per-weight payments in return.

Product overview

PyroNam operates a biochar production business focused on restoring savanna landscapes in Namibia. The core product is high-quality biochar produced through proprietary pyrolysis technology that converts FSC-certified bush biomass into biochar, wood tar, and wood vinegar. The business model centers on the Farmer Partnership Program where PyroNam builds and operates pyrolysis plants on leased farmer land, purchasing biomass from farmers and returning biochar as soil amendment. Carbon removal is financed through C-sink certificates exported to international buyers. The company offers semi-industrial plants processing 3,000+ tons of dry biomass annually with capacity exceeding 1,000 tons of biochar per year.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PyroNam Biochar High-quality biochar produced through proprietary pyrolysis of FSC-certified encroacher bush biomass. Sold as a permanent soil amendment for degraded soils in dryland farming, horticulture, and land remediation projects.
• Wood Tar Condensed tar byproduct from the biochar pyrolysis process, collected by re-using smoke and wood gas, with commercial market value.
• Wood Vinegar Byproduct of the biochar pyrolysis process, applied as a pest repellent and growth stimulant in regenerative agriculture.
• Carbon C-Sink Certificates Certified carbon removal certificates created from biochar and the harvesting-to-sequestration process under the European Biochar Initiative's Carbon C Sink Standards, sold to international companies seeking to offset their CO2 emissions.
• PyroNam Farmer Partnership Program Service program in which PyroNam leases land from farmers, builds and operates pyrolysis plants at its own expense, purchases bush biomass from farmers by weight, and distributes biochar back to them as soil amendment. Farmers deliver bush biomass and receive income without any required investment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Each plant removes >2,000 tons CO2 per year
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and support.

• PyroCCS GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021PyroCCS GmbH is the German parent company of PyroNam, founded by Carlos Arrufat and Timo Herbrand in Cologne, Germany in 2021. PyroCCS promotes biochar as a global strategy for carbon dioxide removal in developing countries, with operations in India and exploration in Eastern/Southern Africa and Southeast Asia. PyroCCS aims to establish 1,000 plants in these regions within 5 years.
• Namibia Biomass Industry Group (N-BiG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerN-BiG is instrumental in developing and implementing key projects for the Namibia bush biomass sector, including institutional and sustainability aspects. Progress Kashandula serves as CEO of N-BiG and sits on PyroNam's Advisory Board.
• Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Habauka Kwaambwa heads the joint project of GIZ, Eurofins and German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ) to accredit NUST laboratory for biochar analysis according to EBC standards.
• Namibian FarmerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPyroNam partners with Namibian farmers through a lease and biomass supply model. Farmers lease land for pyrolysis plant infrastructure, deliver FSC-certified bush biomass, and receive payment by weight plus biochar for soil amendment.
• European Biochar Initiative (EBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPyroNam's carbon credits require certification under European Biochar Initiative's Carbon C Sink Standards. EBC provides the certification standards for biochar and processes from harvesting to sequestration.
• Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiomass harvesting from bush encroachment is certified under FSC standards. PyroNam evaluates biomass according to FSC certification requirements as part of their quality and sustainability standards.
• GIZsupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerGIZ (German Development Agency) is involved in the joint project with NUST and Eurofins to accredit the NUST laboratory for biochar analysis according to EBC standards.
• EurofinssupportStrategic or Co-development PartnerEurofins participates in the joint project with GIZ, NUST, and German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ) to accredit the NUST laboratory for biochar analysis.
• German Biomass Research Center (DBFZ)supportStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBFZ is part of the joint project with GIZ, Eurofins, and NUST to accredit the NUST laboratory for biochar analysis according to EBC standards.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Primebiochar: Namibian biochar producer and marketer founded by Sakeus Kafula, who sits on PyroNam's advisory board. A direct in-country peer addressing the same Namibian agricultural and bush-thinning opportunity.
• Charm Industrial: US-based CDR company that converts biomass into bio-oil for underground sequestration. Comparable as a high-profile biomass-based durable CDR developer competing for similar voluntary carbon credit offtake from large corporate buyers.

Broad incumbents

• Carbonfuture: Carbon removal marketplace and MRV (monitoring, reporting, verification) infrastructure provider. Comparable as a distribution and verification layer for biochar and other durable CDR credits, including those PyroNam produces.
• Puro.earth: Leading carbon removal registry and marketplace for engineered and nature-based removals including biochar. Functions as both a marketplace for PyroNam's credits and a benchmark for biochar-CDR pricing and methodology.

Direct peers

• Carbofex: Finnish biochar producer operating pyrolysis plants and selling carbon removal credits and biochar as soil amendment. Closest direct competitor in the biochar-CDR business model, though operating in Europe rather than Southern Africa.
• Novocarbo: German biochar-CDR company with multiple pyrolysis plants and a focus on EBC-certified biochar carbon removal certificates. Comparable as a European-anchored biochar-CDR developer with similar certification strategy and offtake approach.
• Biochar Supreme: US biochar manufacturer producing multiple biochar product lines for agriculture, livestock, and environmental remediation. Comparable as a vertically integrated biochar producer serving both agricultural and environmental markets.
• Pacific Biochar: US/Hawaii-based biochar producer focused on agricultural soil applications and carbon removal. Comparable in feedstock-to-biochar value chain and dual exposure to soil amendment + carbon credit revenue.
• Carbon Gold: UK-based biochar product company selling biochar-based soil improvers to growers and gardeners. Comparable in biochar productization and focus on agricultural end-users, though smaller in carbon credit monetization.
• Wakefield Biochar: US-based biochar manufacturer producing biochar from forestry residues for soil amendment and carbon markets. Comparable in pyrolysis-based biochar production for agricultural and carbon credit end-markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PyroNam