Pyrolysis Oil – Renewable fuel and chemical feedstock
Pyrolysis oil is a liquid energy carrier produced through the thermochemical conversion of biomass or plastic waste.
It represents one of the most important output streams of pyrolysis systems, enabling the transformation of waste into usable energy and chemical resources.
Versatile applications
Pyrolysis oil can be:
refined into transportation fuels
used as a substitute for fossil-based fuels
processed into chemical feedstocks
integrated into existing refinery infrastructure
This makes it particularly relevant for industries seeking scalable low-carbon alternatives.
Key properties
energy density: ~15–30 MJ/kg (depending on feedstock)
liquid form → easy storage and transport
compatible with upgrading and refining processes
derived from waste streams rather than primary resources
Production characteristics (feedstock-dependent)
The yield of pyrolysis oil depends strongly on the input material:
Biomass-based pyrolysis:
approx. 20–40% oil yield
indicative example (17 tons/day input):
→ ~3–6 tons of oil per day
Plastic and rubber feedstocks:
significantly higher yields possible (up to ~60–80%)
making plastic pyrolysis particularly relevant for fuel production
Market relevance
Demand for low-carbon fuels is increasing rapidly, especially in sectors that are difficult to electrify:
shipping
aviation (via upgrading to SAF)
heavy industry
chemical production
Pyrolysis oil is positioned as a transitional and scalable solution within these sectors.
Economic potential (indicative)
Typical price ranges:
$300 – $800 per ton (depending on quality, upgrading level, and market)
Example (biomass case, ~17 t/day input):
~3–6 tons/day
potential revenue: $900 – $4,800 per day
Additional upside may arise from:
upgrading into higher-value fuels
integration into chemical supply chains
Energy system relevance
Unlike many renewable energy carriers, pyrolysis oil:
is energy-dense
can be stored and transported
integrates into existing infrastructure
This makes it particularly valuable in bridging the gap between fossil-based systems and fully renewable energy systems.
The Satoumi advantage
Satoumi systems enable:
decentralized production of pyrolysis oil directly at waste sources
flexible processing of both biomass and plastic feedstocks
integration into existing industrial and energy systems
reduced logistics and transport requirements
This allows operators to:
Convert locally available waste into usable energy carriers
Strategic perspective
As energy systems transition, demand is shifting toward:
low-carbon fuels
circular feedstocks
decentralized production
Pyrolysis oil aligns with all three trends.
In this context, pyrolysis oil is not just a byproduct —
it becomes a key intermediary between waste streams and future energy systems.
Interested in becoming an early partner?
Satoumi is currently seeking pilot partners to realize the first projects and move the technology into real-world deployment.
At this stage, we are primarily looking for organizations capable of participating in early implementation, prototyping, manufacturing, or operational pilot projects.
If your organization is interested — even if the timing is not yet ideal — we encourage you to contact us.
We are happy to:
provide additional technical information
discuss potential collaboration models
evaluate whether a partnership is a good fit
place interested organizations on our early partner and deployment waitlist
We are also working toward making complete reactor systems available in the future through manufacturing and deployment partners.
If you are interested in:
future reactor purchases
licensing opportunities
pilot deployments
or future rental/leasing models
we would be glad to stay in contact and reach out once the appropriate deployment stage is reached.