gasification

[Acala]

I have stumbled on an old technology you might find useful. Essentially it produces a flammable gas from wood and other carbon-containing material. You can use the gas anywhere you use propane or natural gas - to run internal combustion engines, cook stoves, water heaters etc.

Essentially it involves reacting water with hot carbon in an oxygen-starved environment. The equipment is simple to construct. It was widely used to operate motor vehicles in oil-starved Europe during WWII.

Here is a website:
http://www.gengas.nu/byggbes/3.shtml

There are many more.