The Simplest Backyard Charring System
For those who get their electricity from carbon-free sources
If you generate more electricity via sun or wind (we do) this system could be the one for you. Instead of selling that surplus power back to the grid, you can use it to help clean the atmosphere.
I purchased the ChangBERT 1800-watt induction cooktop from Amazon. If your electricity comes from carbon-free sources like solar, wind, hydroelectric, or nuclear, then this is the setup to try. Just start it, let it run, and come back later to harvest your charcoal.
Its important to use an induction cooktop because it reliably reaches the temperatures needed for making charcoal (>400 °C / >750 °F). Traditional resistance hotplates top out around 370 °C (700 °F), a little shy of what’s required.
Take care: If you power this system with fossil-fuel electricity, you’ll emit more carbon than you trap, doing more harm than good.
Stay tuned to the Carbon Trap Project as we test and share performance results in the weeks ahead.
