Scientists Develop Ultra-Efficient Biomass Charcoal Heater

Millions of people around the world heat their homes with charcoal burned on small grills. Now a group of Japanese scientists has developed a biomass charcoal combustion heater with a thermal efficiency of 60-81 percent— a big step up from current biomass stoves, which have an efficiency of 46-53 percent.

The heater could be especially useful in Japan, where biomass is a plentiful source of renewable energy. According to scientists, large-scale use of the biomass charcoal combustion heater could potentially cut CO2 emissions by 4.46 million tons.