What BIOCARBON_AU does

BioCarbon is an Australian climate technology company founded in 2014 that operates a pyrolysis-based manufacturing platform to convert low-value woody agricultural waste into renewable carbon products. Its core product, GreenChar, is a proprietary engineered renewable char designed as a drop-in replacement for fossil metallurgical coke in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking, delivering required fixed-carbon performance and a 44% Scope 1 emissions reduction potential with no plant or process modifications required. The company also markets multiple char form factors (raw char, granulated char, briquettes, extruded carbon forms, biochar lumps and pellets) and co-products including PyroAg wood vinegar for regenerative agriculture and syngas used to generate on-site renewable electricity for plant operations.

The company's business model centres on direct B2B supply of GreenChar to EAF steel manufacturers via enterprise field sales, supplemented by grant-funded R&D and pilot sales of biochar and PyroAg into the Australian agricultural sector. Pricing is structured at cost parity with fossil-based coke to eliminate the green premium that has historically slowed adoption. BioCarbon's flagship Bulahdelah project in New South Wales, funded primarily by a AUD $4.8M ARENA grant awarded in January 2025, is designed to process approximately 20,000 tonnes of wood waste annually into around 8,000 tonnes of renewable carbon products per year for supply to InfraBuild's Rooty Hill steelmaking facility under a core strategic partnership; construction begins December 2025 with operational demonstration running 2026-2028 and project completion targeted for May 2029.

The company is founder-led (CEO Chad Sheppeard, Chief Scientist Dr. Kannappar Mukunthan, Chief Engineer John Mellowes) with a small core team of approximately 8-15 personnel supplemented by biomass supply-chain partners. It has secured recognised industry validation including XPRIZE Carbon Removal Top 100, WEF Near-Zero Steel 2030 Challenge Top Innovator, auManufacturing Top 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers, and selection for Tech23 at Cicada x Tech23.

Name

BIOCARBON_AU

Legal name

BioCarbon Australia

Website

https://biocarbon.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Australian climate technology company using advanced pyrolysis to convert woody agricultural waste into GreenChar, a drop-in renewable carbon replacement for fossil metallurgical coke in Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking. Also produces PyroAg wood vinegar for regenerative agriculture, serving EAF steelmakers and the agricultural sector.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Carbon Manufacturing

NAICS

Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (324), Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194)

SIC

Miscellaneous Products Of Petroleum & Coal (2990)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochar Production & Soil/Material Applications (EUABAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD), Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application) (EUABABAH), Biochar, Activated Carbon & Soil Amendments (from forest biomass) (IMAMALAH), Bio-based Carbon Products & Advanced Bioproducts (Biochar, activated carbon, carbon black alternatives) (EUAAAIAM), Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Conditioners (AFABADAD), Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Builders (AFABAKAG)

Keywords

• Renewable carbon products
• Pyrolysis biochar production
• EAF steelmaking decarbonisation
• Biomass waste conversion
• Industrial carbon replacement

Headquarters

HQ city

Bulahdelah, New South Wales

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. GreenChar Product Sales: Sale of renewable carbon products (GreenChar) to steel manufacturers as replacement for fossil coke in Electric Arc Furnace operations. Production facility at Bulahdelah will produce approximately 8,000 tonnes of renewable carbon annually for supply to steel industry partners.
2. Renewable Energy (Syngas): Captured syngas generated through pyrolysis process is used to produce renewable electricity on site to support plant operations, reducing energy costs.
3. Wood Vinegar (Pyroligneous Acid) Sales: Sale of pyroligneous acid co-product to Australian agricultural sector for regenerative agriculture applications, providing sustainable alternatives to synthetic chemicals.
4. Biochar for Agriculture and Environmental Applications: Sale of biochar products for soil health applications, including collaborative research projects with universities and land services for sustainable agriculture.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

BioCarbon converts woody agricultural waste into renewable carbon products through proprietary advanced pyrolysis and consolidation technologies. Its flagship product, GreenChar, is an engineered renewable char designed as a drop-in replacement for fossil metallurgical coke in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking. The company also produces pyroligneous acid (wood vinegar) for regenerative agriculture, bio-oil, and syngas that is used on-site to generate renewable electricity.

Product overview

BioCarbon is an Australian climate technology company that operates a pyrolysis-based manufacturing platform producing renewable carbon products from woody agricultural waste. The core product is GreenChar, a proprietary engineered renewable char for EAF steelmaking that serves as a direct replacement for fossil metallurgical coke. The product portfolio includes multiple char forms (raw char, granulated char, briquettes, extruded carbon forms, biochar lumps and pellets) produced through advanced pyrolysis technology. The platform also generates co-products including PyroAg wood vinegar for regenerative agriculture and syngas for renewable energy generation. The technology uses a Continuous Biomass Converter process that converts low-value biomass into high-value renewable carbon materials for industrial decarbonization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GreenChar: Engineered renewable char designed for Electric Arc Furnace steelmaking, delivering required fixed-carbon performance while enabling reduced reliance on fossil coke.
• PyroAg

Products and services

• GreenChar Engineered renewable carbon product designed as a drop-in replacement for fossil metallurgical coke in Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steelmaking. GreenChar delivers the required fixed-carbon performance while enabling a net-zero carbon profile at the same cost-in-use as fossil-based coke, with no plant or process modifications required.
• Biochar Lumps and Pellets Processed biochar in lump and pellet forms engineered as charge carbon for Electric Arc Furnaces, capable of replacing more than 90% of an EAF facility's charge carbon requirement. Produced by BioCarbon's proprietary pyrolysis and consolidation technologies at the Bulahdelah facility.
• PyroAg Wood Vinegar (Pyroligneous Acid) Co-product of BioCarbon's pyrolysis char-making process, marketed under the PyroAg brand as a sustainable alternative to synthetic chemicals for regenerative agriculture. Wood vinegar reduces chemical inputs while improving soil structure and biology.
• Biochar for Industrial and Environmental Applications Biochar produced through BioCarbon's pyrolysis process for industrial and environmental applications, including soil improvement, soil carbon sequestration, and other regenerative agriculture uses. Sold for soil health applications, including through collaborative research projects with universities and land services for sustainable agriculture.

Quantifiable outcome

• 44% reduction in Scope 1 emissions achievable with carbon replacement in the EAF process
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and core.

• University of NewcastlesupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Collaborative research partner in project led by University of Newcastle and Hunter Local Land Services, aimed at improving soil health through biochar. Part of Australian Government's National Soil Strategy supporting farmers.
• Hunter Local Land ServicessupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Collaborative partner in soil health research project with University of Newcastle and BioCarbon, supporting farmers through biochar applications.
• InfraBuild (Manufacturing) Pty LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary industry partner for the Bulahdelah project. InfraBuild will receive biochar supply to replace fossil coke at their Rooty Hill steelmaking facility. Project aims to demonstrate consistent, reliable biochar use in EAF steelmaking and enable large-scale adoption.
• InfraBuild NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating on commercial-scale renewable carbon manufacturing supporting decarbonisation of electric arc furnace steelmaking in Australia.
• Biomet Pty LtdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the Bulahdelah biochar production facility, contributing to the delivery of Australia's first commercial biochar steelmaking project.
• PyroAgsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner contributing to the Bulahdelah biochar project. Also partnered on pyroligneous acid products for Australian agriculture market under the PyroAg brand.
• S.A. Relf & Sons Pty LtdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in the Bulahdelah biochar production facility, participating in the delivery of Australia's first commercial biochar steelmaking project.
• Active Tree ServicescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDirector Mark Willcocks founded this industry-leading arborist and tree care company with 1000+ workforce. Provides expertise in biomass waste management and supply chain logistics, with long history of biomass waste management bringing weight of knowledge regarding sourcing and supply of biomass.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunfire: German electrolysis company producing renewable hydrogen and synfuels. Operates in industrial decarbonization but on a different technical pathway (electrolysis vs pyrolysis).
• Boston Metal: US-based green steel technology company using molten oxide electrolysis to decarbonize steelmaking. Competes for the same end-customer decarbonization budget but uses a different technical pathway.
• SSAB: Nordic steelmaker leading the HYBRIT fossil-free steel initiative using hydrogen DRI. Represents an established green steel incumbent that BioCarbon's EAF-focused biochar approach partially competes with or could supply.
• ArcelorMittal: World's largest steelmaker, actively pursuing decarbonization including EAF and biochar/H2 routes. A potential customer and competitor for BioCarbon's renewable carbon in their own green steel programs.
• Stegra (H2 Green Steel): Swedish green steel producer using hydrogen-based DRI to displace fossil-based steelmaking. Competes in the green steel value chain but via a hydrogen route rather than renewable carbon.

Direct peers

• CarbonScape: New Zealand-based company producing biochar from forestry biomass for industrial applications including steelmaking. Closely comparable in feedstock (woody biomass), technology (pyrolysis), and target use case (renewable carbon for heavy industry).
• Pyrogen: Australian pyrolysis technology developer producing renewable carbon and biochar from biomass waste. Directly comparable technology platform and geographic market overlap with BioCarbon.
• Carbofex: Finnish biochar producer using pyrolysis to convert woody biomass into biochar for industrial and agricultural applications. Comparable business model and product range (biochar for industry and soil).
• NovoCarbo: German biochar producer and carbon removal project developer. Comparable in pyrolysis-based biochar production and involvement in voluntary carbon markets, though focused on European market.

Emerging players

• Electra: US company developing electrochemical iron production for green steel. Competes for steel decarbonization funding with a different technical approach but targeting the same end customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Biocarbon_au
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BioCarbon_Au
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=100057132804151
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biocarbon-au

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 BIOCARBON_AU