The Cookswell 'Green Cap' Biochar Making Kiln

 A Kenyan Solution for Small-Scale Pyrolysis

The Cookswell 'Green Cap' Charcoal and Biochar Making Kiln is a user designed low cost invention from Kenya for small-scale pyrolysis and biochar production. This kiln offers an efficient, portable and environmentally-friendly solution for converting a wide variety of biomass feedstocks into valuable charcoal and biochar.

Versatile Feedstock Options

One of the key features of the Cookswell 'Green Cap' Kiln is its ability to process a diverse range of biomass materials. From bamboo and maize cobs to coffee and tea bush prunings, as well as flower farm waste, this kiln can effectively carbonize an impressive array of woody feedstocks ranging from 2cm to 15cm in diameter. This versatility allows users to take advantage of locally available resources and minimize waste.





Efficient Charcoal and Biochar Production

The kiln's design enables efficient pyrolysis, resulting in a high charcoal yield. On average, the kiln can produce 25-30 kgs of charcoal from 100 kgs of biomass, with the exact volumetric yield (gunias) depending on the density of the feedstock. For example, a full kiln of lightweight materials like maize cobs can yield around 10-15 kgs of charcoal, while a denser hardwood such as invasive Prosopis juliflora can yield up to 30 kgs in between 4 and hours hours respectively.

Smoke Reduction and Wood Vinegar Collection

A unique feature of the Cookswell 'Green Cap' Kiln is its smoke trap pipe, which significantly reduces smoke production during the carbonization process. This not only improves the user experience but also minimizes the environmental impact. Additionally, the smoke trap pipe allows for the collection of 0.5 and 3 litres of valuable wood vinegar each carbonization round, which can be used for an organic pest control product. It will also collect Stockholm tar for farm use as well. 

You can read more about this useful by-product here https://kenyacharcoal.blogspot.com/2016/05/how-to-make-your-own-wood-vinegar-with.html


Long Term Feedstock Security

The Cookswell 'Green Cap' Kiln comes with step-by-step printed instructions and a pack of indigenous tree seedballs, encouraging users to plant their own forests and promote sustainable charcoal production. This holistic approach helps to address the environmental concerns associated with traditional charcoal production methods.



The Cookswell 'Green Cap' Charcoal and Biochar Making Kiln is an excellent tool in the world of small-scale pyrolysis. Its versatility, efficiency, and environmental benefits make it a valuable tool for businesses, farms, and households that rely on charcoal or seek to produce their own biochar and wood vinegar.

Citations:

[1] https://twitter.com/cookswelljikos/status/1455618806865436675

[2] https://cookswell.co.ke/product/cookswell-charcoal-making-kiln-small/

[3] https://stoves.bioenergylists.org/taxonomy/term/1914

[4] https://cookswell.co.ke/product/cookswell-charcoal-making-kiln-large/

[5] https://stoves.bioenergylists.org/taxonomy/term/49?page=1





Want to empower your students with baking skills AND environmental awareness?


Cookswell Jikos offers the perfect solution: our off-grid charcoal baking ovens are ideal for Home Science classes, allowing students to learn practical baking skills while minimizing environmental impact.
Plus, here's what sets us apart:
Baking Training: We partner with the wonderful Baking with Amari in Nairobi and gain access to exclusive "How to Start a Successful Baking Business" training for your students!





Online Learning: Can't make it to Nairobi? No problem! We offer comprehensive online baking classes to fit your schedule.
Sustainable Charcoal Production: Teach your students responsible resource management with our eco-charcoal drum kiln kit. It uses just pruned twigs, bamboo and agri-waste like maize cobs!




Grow More Trees: Each kit includes indigenous tree seedballs site matched to where your school is in Kenya 🇰🇪 – students can plant them at school and home, contributing to a greener future.
Give your students the gift of knowledge, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility. Contact Cookswell Jikos today!
P.S. Share this post with other schools who might be interested!
P.P.S. We also offer financing options to make our ovens accessible to all schools. Contact us for details!

Save BIG on your charcoal bill at your nyama choma joint with our energy saving heavy duty charcoal grills!


Single burners starting from 18,000ksh with a 1 year warranty and each jiko includes a FREE packet of acacia tree seeds for you to start growing a future source of charcoal.

Would you like to cook with free charcoal for the rest of your life?

Simple. Grow a few trees, trim the branches and make some for yourself or your businesses without ever having to cut down a whole tree.


Check out our improved charcoal making kilns starting at 6,500ksh https://cookswell.co.ke/product-category/kilns/ (inc. a free packet of tree seeds as well!)


Smoking chips in stock!

Cut into an easy to use chunk format, these sticks are made from seasonal prunings from Kenyan trees grown without the use of harmful chemicals. 4 to 5 pieces will smoke for about an hour, and there is no need to soak prior to using. 

How to use: Place a small handful of #Cookswell Smoking Wood in the removeable tray that catches the ashes below the liner. When hot coals fall through the holes, they will slowly smolder the wood to produce high-quality smoke for meats, veggies and more! 

Alternatively and for more smoke production, place a few sticks directly onto the coals in the oven, and cover with a bit of ash. Remember to keep your oven clean if you also plan to use it for baking. The smoke buildup from each use will impart a smoky flavor to the other dishes that you prepare. 

Each bag is approximately 500gms in weight. https://cookswell.co.ke/product/wood-chips/



About our wood varieties: 

Plum: sweet smoke with a slightly spicy flavour, well rounded 

Peach: sweet, fruity flavour, ideal for white meat, seafood and small game birds 

African Pepper Bark: pungent peppery taste, renowned for it’s use as a valued plant in traditional medicine 

Meru Oak: slightly sweet vanilla-tinged flavour, suited to smoking all types of meat and vegetables 

African Olive: lighter than mesquite with a milder smoke flavour, particularly delicious on Mediterranean style dishes

Mathenge #Mesquite: bold, complex and earthy, suited to dark meat and veggies.

SME exhibitors at Meat Expo rave about GIZ booth

 “GIZ gave us a spot at their booth and we are happy and honoured we got the opportunity to demonstrate that charcoal cannot only be used cleanly and efficiently but it can also be made sustainably,” says Teddy, adding: “We were busy from the first day.”

People thronged the Cookswell Jiko’s stand to see the Jikos used to grill meat into what is famously known as nyama choma, a favourite of many Kenyans.






https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/sponsored/sme-exhibitors-at-meat-expo-rave-about-giz-booth-3636552

Make your own FREE charcoal without cutting down a single tree!

Read all about our out our charcoal making kilns here kenyacharcoal.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-co And order online here cookswell.co.ke/product-catego small sized is 6,500ksh (1/4 gunia per day) the large one(1 gunia per day) is 18,500ksh (2020)


 

Grow your own shade for those hot days and make your neighborhood greener!

seedballs


seedballs kenya


Order your own tree seedballs to start greening up your town today from www.seedballskenya.com
 

Having an event and want to give out a biodegradable packet of indigenous tree seeds for people to take home and grow?






 

          Talk to us on seedballskenya@gmail.com or 0725800251

Have you tried out the new Soul Coal eco-charcoal?



New eco-charcoal now in stock! We now have the amazing Soul Coal leleshwa bush charcoal harvested from fire breaks at Ol Ari Nyiro conservancy in Laikipia County. This charcoal supports local community members as well as controlling the spread of the invasive Leleshwa plant. Perfect for your daily bbq and baking needs, burns hot and clean. (800ksh for 8kgs here)