and other improvements. The team expects to complete and test the Powertainer plus in 2020.
All Power Labs is researching technology architectures that leverage regulatory interconnection maturity of other renewable generation technology, such as solar. For instance, the project team is identifying opportunities for integrating energy storage and inverter technology to overcome regulatory hurdles, since the grid-tie market understands those components very well. This work would greatly increase the viability of biomass as a renewable energy solution. In addition, All Power Labs is reviewing off-grid applications, which provide meaningful waste disposal capacity per unit, and produce biochar for agronomic and commercial use.
To help this new and important innovative technology reach the market, All Power Labs uses a handful of online and public-facing outreach opportunities. As an authority in small-scale gasification technologies, All Power Labs’ website is a go-to destination. By highlighting the Powertainer as an upcoming technology, All Power Labs is able to bring international attention and interest to the Powertainer. As effective as All Power Labs’ online presence is, it also prioritizes in-person outreach within California by using monthly open houses, and dedicated gatherings and demonstrations, focused on the Powertainer technology.
The initial target market for this technology is the biomass waste management industry — one that interfaces with forestry products, produces biomass waste, and has electricity and heat demands. In many ways this represents an optimal use for this type of technology, which provides important benefits to California. In addition, since the Powertainer produces a very high-quality biochar byproduct, this technology has the added advantage of being carbon negative.
Another major hurdle to market adoption relates to being able to point to a project that has been able to successfully work through regulatory challenges and operate in a target market. Once this occurs and there is a precedent, All Power Labs anticipates that the market will open up to more projects across the state.
All Power Labs has a business model combining direct retail equipment sales with the provision of waste-to-energy services to generate revenue from the deployment of Powertainers projects. In the waste-to-energy services model, All Power Labs develops projects, owning and operating the equipment itself, and the site host or off-taker pays for the energy, biochar, and waste processing services. This model eliminates up-front capital cost for the customer and provides All Power Labs with a recurring revenue stream. All Power Labs intends for the waste-to-energy services portion of its business to generate a larger share of revenue compared to retail sales, as it provides a more stable, and ultimately larger, revenue stream. Waste-to-energy service projects can also leverage structured financing, expanding All Power Labs’ capacity to deploy revenue-generating assets.
In both models, All Power Labs’ customers will be commercial or institutional customers with biomass waste streams and energy requirements. To reach these customers, All Power Labs’ marketing strategy consists of making connections using paid consultants and networking with regional partners — such as trade groups and academics — followed by targeted periodical and online advertising in areas with high tree mortality.
