The use of biomass fibers used as binders of a charcoal matrix --all done at ambient temperatures and at pressures generated by a simple hand press (12 to 15 bars) -and there are many such options– is certainly a viable alternative to boiling up starch or sugar on one end or purchasing the mechanized press and consuming the energy to generate the higher temperature/pressure for lignin melting. I will being the samples to the stoves camp to show what kind of densities can be achieved by infilling a properly processed fiber matrix with such as charcoal fines but I find it puzzling that this alternative now active in 67 nations globally, escapes mention.
Richard Stanley