Enerkem, NOVA Chemicals
Date: 2020-05-13
Montreal-based biofuels-renewable fuels from wastes specialist Enerkem and Calgary-headquartered NOVA Chemicals Corp. are reporting a joint development agreement to research advanced recycling technology to transform hard-to-recycle municipal waste, including items such as plastics, household waste, and construction materials, into ethylene at full commercial scale.

Enerkem is the world's first to produce renewable methanol and ethanol from non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste at full commercial scale. Enerkem's technology replace the use of fossil sources like petroleum and natural gas to produce sustainable chemicals and transportation fuels. Calgary-based NOVA Chemicals develops and manufactures chemicals and plastic resins. (Source: NOVA Chemicals, Enerkem Inc., May, 2020) Contact: NOVA Chemicals, Todd Karran, Pres., Jennifer Nanz, Communications, Jennifer.Nanz@novachem.com, www.novachem.com; Enerkem, Dominique Boies, CEO and CFO, 514-375-7800 communications@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News NOVA Chemicals,  Enerken,  Waste-to-Fuel,  

Enerkem,Suncor Energy
Date: 2019-10-18
In Canada, Montreal-based chemicals and waste-to-biofuels specialist Enerkem Inc. is reporting closure of a $50 million (Cdn) equity investment from Calgary, Alberta-based Suncor Energy.

Along with its investment, Suncor will provide technical resources to support the operations of Enerkem's Alberta Biofuels (EAB) plant in Edmonton. The plant is the first commercial-scale plant in the world to turn non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal solid waste into cellulosic ethanol. (Source: Enerkem, Biofuels News, Oct., 2019) Contact: Enerkem, Dominique Boies, CEO and CFO , 514) 875-0284, dboies@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; Suncor Energy, www.suncor.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Cellulosic Ethanol,  Enerkem,  Suncor Energy,  

Air Liquide,Shell,Enerkem
Date: 2019-03-04
Further to our July 17, 2018 report, a consortium comprising Air Liquide, Nouryon (fka AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals), Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam is reporting Royal Dutch Shell will join as an equal equity partner in Europe's first advanced waste-to-chemicals (W2C) and biofuels from non-recyclable waste materials facility in Rotterdam.

The planned facility will convert up to 360,000 tpy of waste into 220,000 tpy of biomethanol -- a chemical building block that is used to manufacture a broad range of everyday products, as well as being a renewable fuel.

The consortium was established as a dedicated joint venture company and has begun preparatory work covering detailed engineering and the permitting process. It aims to take the final investment decision (FID) before the year end.

The project, which will use Montreal-headquartered Enerkem's proprietary technology, is supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs & Climate Policy, the City of Rotterdam, the Province of Zuid-Holland and Innovation Quarter, the regional development agency. The facility's sustainable methanol output will be purchased by Nouryon and Shell. (Source: Shell, Port Of Rotterdam, Hellenic Shipping News,1 Mar., 2019) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; AkzoNobel, Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Dir. of Innovation, +31 88 969 7833, www.akzonobel.com; Air Liquide, Chet Benham, VP Advanced Technologies, (781) 491-0807, www.airliquide.com; Port of Rotterdam, www.portofrotterdam.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Waste-to-Chemical,  Methanol,  Enerkem,  Shell,  Air Liquide,  

Enerkem,Ocean Legacy Foundation
Date: 2018-09-26
In Canada, Montreal-based waste-to-biofuels specialist Enerkem Inc. reports that following the commercial launch of the world's first waste-to-biofuels facility in Edmonton, Alberta, it will be exploring opportunities to take action on ocean plastics waste and marine litter. The company is seeking to leverage its carbon recycling technology expertise to help solve issues related to ocean plastics waste.

The company notes it has been in discussions with not-for-profit Ocean Legacy Foundation which conducts recurring coastal cleanup expeditions, to explore ways that soiled plastics can be recuperated from oceans to produce low carbon transportation fuels and chemicals by leveraging Enerkem's "disruptive" carbon recycling technology.

According to the World Economic Forum, around 150 million tonnes of plastics are floating in the world's oceans, with an additional eight million tonnes entering the water each year. (Source: Enerkem, PR, Biofuels Int'l, 24 Sept., 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; Ocean Legacy Foundation, https://oceanlegacy.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Waste-to-Fuel,  

Enerkem
Date: 2018-09-12
Montreal-based waste-to-ethanol and chemicals producer specialist Enerkem is reporting the production of a clean, renewable bio-dimethyl ether (Bio-DME), a by-product of biomethanol, that could replace the use of diesel fuel in the transportation sector.

Using its proprietary thermochemical technology, the company tested and validated the production of fuel-grade bio-DME made from unrecoverable carbon-rich municipal solid waste at its Innovation Centre in Westbury, Quebec.

Bio-DME offers a 20 pct higher cetane rating on average than diesel or bio-diesel fuels and, when combusted, does not produce sulfur oxide (SOx) or fine particles, and contributes to lower emissions from other harmful residual pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) that are mainly produced from the combustion of fossil-based fuels. (Source: Enerkem, Various Trade Media, 11 Sept., 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Bio-DME,  Bioethanol,  Enerkem,  Waste-to-biofuel,  Bioethanol,  

Enerkem
Date: 2018-07-23
Montreal-based waste-to-ethanol specialist Enerkem reports its planned $200 million garbage-to-ethanol plant in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, is progressing but hurdles remain.

In June, the Inver Grove Metropolitan Council approved plans for a new wastewater reuse facility in Rosemount, only the second such plant in the Twin Cities. Turning waste into fuel is a water-intensive -- approximately 1.6 million gpd -- process. The proposed Southeast Metro Water Reclamation Facility would treat wastewater and provide the reclaimed water to the Enerkem facility.

The planned Enerkem facility, which could process an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 tpd of garbage, is in the engineering and permitting phase with construction expected to start in 2019 or 2020 for commissioning and startup coming 18 to 24 months later, subject to permitting and approvals. (Source: Enerkem, Star Tribune, 22 July, 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Waste-to-Fuel,  

Enerkem
Date: 2018-07-18
Following up on our April 2nd coverage, with the previously reported startup of it Edmonton, Alberta, waste-to-cellulosic ethanol plant, Montreal-based Enerkem plans to tap into some of the 2 million tpy of municipal solid waste (MSW) shipped to the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for methanol fuel production.

Amsterdam-based chemical company AkzoNobel, and Paris-headquartered industrial gas specialist Air Liquide are participating in the project which is expected to cost approximately $232 million. When fully operational in 2020, the plant will gasify 300,000 tpy of waste to produce more than 200,000 tpy of methanol while avoiding about 300,000 tpy of CO2 emissions that would have been generated through incineration of the waste. Enerkem's patented technology can break down chemically and structurally dissimilar waste, including plastic materials, into a pure syngas that can be converted into commercial-grade methanol. (Source: Enerkem, Waste 360, 17 July, 2018)Contact: Enerkem Inc., Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; AkzoNobel, Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Dir. of Innovation, +31 88 969 7833, www.akzonobel.com; Air Liquide, Chet Benham, VP Advanced Technologies, (781) 491-0807, www.airliquide.com; Port of Rotterdam, www.portofrotterdam.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem ,  

Aemetis
Date: 2018-06-20
Cupertino, California-based Aemetis, Inc. reports that the publication Biofuels Digest has awarded the Aemetis cellulosic ethanol facility under development at the Riverbank site in California as the "#1 Waste-to-Value Project in the world." The Aemetis facility earned its #1 project ranking as a result of its low cost contracted inputs, high value outputs, proven process technology and a planned $125 million USDA guaranteed loan. The facility was ranked above high profile and funded advanced biofuels projects including those developed by Fulcrum, Red Rock, Clariant, Poet and Enerkem.

Biofuels Digest noted that the Aemetis Riverbank project combines the best technology from leading technology providers LanzaTech and InEnTec with the local availability of waste orchard wood and other feedstock that can be used to produce Aemetis' high value cellulosic ethanol and valuable byproducts.

Aemetis owns and operates a 60 million gallon per year ethanol production facility in California's Central Valley, near Modesto. Aemetis also owns and operates a 50 million gpy renewable chemical and advanced fuel production facility in India producing distilled biodiesel and refined glycerin for the Indian, US and European markets. The company also operates an R&D laboratory, and holds a portfolio of patents and related technology licenses for the production of renewable fuels and biochemicals. (Source: Aemetis, PR, 19 June, 2018) Contact: Aemetis, Todd Waltz, (408) 213-0940, investors@aemetis.com, www.aemetis.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Renewable Fuel,  BiochemicalAemetis,  Ethanol,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  Biofuel,  

Date: 2018-04-02
A consortium of companies including Paris-based Air LIquide, Amsterdam's AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, and Enerkem Inc. of Montreal, Canada, and the Port of Rotterdam are confirming a development agreement covering initial investments in a non-recyclable advanced waste-to-chemistry facility in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

An initial €9-million investment will cover engineering, the setup up of a dedicated joint venture (JV) and completing the permitting process. The €200 facility will convert up to 360,000 tpy of waste into 220,000 tons of methanol using Enerkem's bubbling fluidized-bed gasification technology, and will convert non-recyclable mixed waste, including plastics, into syngas for the production of methanol. a (Source: Enerkem, Others, Chemical Engineering, 1 April, 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; AkzoNobel, Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Dir. of Innovation, +31 88 969 7833, www.akzonobel.com; Air Liquide, Chet Benham, VP Advanced Technologies, (781) 491-0807, www.airliquide.com; Port of Rotterdam, www.portofrotterdam.com/en

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Air Liquide,  AkzoNobel,  Syngas,  Port of Rotterdam,  ,  

Enerkem,Zero Waste Solutions
Date: 2018-03-21
Concord, Califorina-based Zero Waste Solutions' trash processing facility in Rochester could be among the first in the country to produce a renewable alternative to gasoline. If all goes as planned. Zero Waste will partner with Canadian waste treatment company Enerkem to convert waste into small briquettes called EcoTac, which burn similarly to, but cleaner than, coal. Enerkem currently has facilities that produce cellulosic ethanol in Canada, the Netherlands, and Minnesota.

To pursue the project in Rochester, Enerkem would need an approximate 10 acre site at or near the Zero Waste municipal solid waste facility. Rochester city planning, environmental and other regulatory approvals are needed for the project to proceed. (Source: Zero Waste Solutions, Sippican Week, 20 Mar., 2018) Contact: Zero Waste Solutions, Mike Camara, CEO, (925) 270-3339, info@zerowastesolutions.com, www.zerowastesolutions.com; Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Waste-to-Fuel,  Waste-to-Energy,  

Enerkem, AkzoNobel
Date: 2018-03-07
Following on our Feb. 21st coverage, a consortium that includes Montreal-based Enerkem has announced an initial €9 million of funding for a proposed waste-to-chemicals plant in Rotterdam. A further €200 million commitment is expected later in the year pending financial approval from the project's lead financial advisor.

If constructed, the plant will convert up to 360,000 tpy of mixed waste into 220,000 tpy (270 million litres) of eco-methanol, a colourless alcohol similar to ethanol. It would also keep approximately 300,000 tpy of CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.

The consortium members include Air Liquide, AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Enerkem and the Port of Rotterdam, The project, which will use Enerkem's proprietary technology, is also supported by the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, the Province of Zuid-Holland and the regional developement authority InnovationQuarter. (Source: Enerkem, Akzo Nobel, Biobased News, Various Media, 6 Mar., 2018)Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; AkzoNobel, Peter Nieuwenhuizen, +31 88 969 7833, www.akzonobel.com; Air Liquide, Chet Benham, VP Advanced Technologies, (781) 491-0807, www.airliquide.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Methanol,  Enerkem,  AkzoNobel,  

Enerkem,AkzoNobel,Air Liquide
Date: 2018-02-21
Montreal-based Enerkem reports it has joined AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Air Liquide, and the Port of Rotterdam in an agreement for initial investments for an advanced waste-to-chemicals plant in Rotterdam. When fully operational, the plant is expected to have two production lines producing as much as 220,000 mt of "green" methanol from 360,000 mt of waste materials. The new plant should also generate CO2 emission savings of around 300,000 mt.

An Initial €9 million ($11 million) investment is expected to cover the set-up of a joint venture, engineering and permitting. The completed plant is expected to come in at approximately €200 million. (Source: Enerkem, Platts, 16 Feb., 2018) Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; AkzoNobel, Peter Nieuwenhuizen, Dir. of Innovation, +31 88 969 7833, www.akzonobel.com; Air Liquide, Chet Benham, VP Advanced Technologies, (781) 491-0807, www.airliquide.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  AkzoNobel,  Air Liquide,  Methanol,  

Enerkem,AkzoNobel,Air Liquide
Date: 2018-02-19
Montreal, Quebec-based Enerkem reports it has joined AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals, Air Liquide, and the Port of Rotterdam in an agreement for initial investments for an advanced waste-to-chemicals plant in Rotterdam.

When fully operational, the plant is expected to have two production lines producing as much as 220,000 mt of "green" methanol from 360,000 mtpy of waste materials. The new plant should also generate CO2 emission savings of around 300,000 mtpy.

An Initial €9 million ($11 million) investment is expected to cover the set-up of a joint venture, engineering and the completion of permitting processes. The completed plant is expected to come in at approximately €200 million. (Source: Enerkem, Platts, 16 Feb., 2018) Contact:Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; AkzoNobel, Peter Nieuwenhuizen, +31 88 969 7833, www.akzonobel.com; Air Liquide, Chet Benham, VP Advanced Technologies, (781) 491-0807, www.airliquide.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  AkzoNobel,  Air Liquide,  Methanol,  

Enerkem
Date: 2018-02-07
Montreal-based biofuels and renewable chemicals from wastes specialist Enerkem Inc. reports it has raised an investment of $280 million which will be used for new facilities.

As previously reported, Enerkem's first commercial plant in Edmonton began producing ethanol in September, 2017 The new investment funds will support construction of a second facility in Varennes, Quebec. Construction is slated to get underway this Spring for completion in 18 to 24 months. Enerkem is also developing a project in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Enerkem's process turns solid waste into methanol.(Source: Enerkem, Montreal Gazette, 6 Feb., 2018)Contact: Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, (514) 875-0284 X 251, vchornet@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Waste-to-Fuel,  Methanol,  Ethanol,  

Enerkem,Sinobioway
Date: 2018-01-22
Montreal-based bifuels and renewable chemicals from wastes specialist Enerkem Inc. reports Sinobioway Group will make a $125 million (Cdn) equity investment in Enerkem Inc., future licenses, equipment manufacturing and sales, as well as for the creation of a major joint venture that will lead the construction of over 100 Enerkem state-of-the-art facilities in China by 2035.

Bejing-based Sinobioway, a flagship conglomerate in China's bio-industry, will help accelerate Enerkem's global growth by opening the Chinese market to Enerkem's pioneering waste-to-biofuels technology. This joint venture will spearhead the development of a clean economy, reducing air pollution by producing renewable fuels from non-recyclable garbage. Sinobioway primarily invests in bio-energy, bio-environmental protection, bio-medicine, bio-agriculture, bio-service, bio-manufacturing, and bio-intelligence sectors. (Source: Enerkem, PR, Markets Insider, Others, 22 Jan., 2019) Contact: Sinobioway Group, en.sinobioway.com.cn; Enerkem Inc. Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, Annie Pare, Communications, (514) 875-0284 X 251, apare@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Sinobioway ,  Enerkem,  

Enerkem,Western Innovation Initiative
Date: 2017-11-22
In Edmonton, Alberta, Enerkem Alberta Biofuels reports its is getting $3.5 million in Canadian federal funding through the Western Innovation Initiative to build the final phase of a facility that converts municipal waste into fuel. This commercial-scale facility can process 100,000 metric tpy of solid waste -- textiles, non-recyclable plastics, soiled food containers and others -- to produce over 40 million lpy of fuel-grade, cellulosic ethanol.

The plant, the first of its kind to convert non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste into liquid biofuels and chemicals, will contribute to the city of Edmonton's goal of diverting up to 90 pct of household waste from landfill.(Source: Enerkem, Plant, 20 Nov., 2017)Contact: Enerkem, Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, Annie Pare, Communications, (514) 875-0284 X 251, apare@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; Western Innovation Initiative, www.wd-deo.gc.ca/eng/14857.asp

More Low-Carbon Energy News Western Innovation Initiative,  Enerkem,  Municipal Solid Waste,  Waste-to-Fuel,  Biofuel,  Cellulosic Ethanol,  

Enerkem
Date: 2017-11-08
Further to our Sept. 18th coverage, Montreal-headquartered waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals producer Enerkem Inc. reports it has received US EPA approval approval to sell cellulosic ethanol produced at its Edmonton, Alberta facility under the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS).

Enerkem's Edmonton facility is the first ever municipal waste-to-cellulosic ethanol plant to receive approval to sell in the United States. Under the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act, 16 billion gallons of cellulosic biofuels are to be blended in the conventional transportation fuel pool by 2022. Enerkem is now registered for D3 Renewable identification numbers (RINs) credits. Previously this year, the Edmonton biofuel facility was expanded to produce 13 million gpy of cellulosic ethanol following the commissioning of its methanol-to-ethanol conversion unit. The Edmonton plant was funded by private sources, Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC), Alberta Innovates and Alberta Energy. (Source: Enerkem Inc., 6 Nov., 2017) Contact: Enerkem, Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, Annie Pare, Communications, (514) 875-0284, x. 251, apare@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com; Sustainable Development Technology Canada, www.sdtc.ca; Alberta Innovates, (780) 427-1956, bio@albertainnovates.ca, http://bio.albertainnovates.ca

More Low-Carbon Energy News Alberta Innovates,  Enerkem,  RFS,  Municipal Solid Waste,  Waste-to-Fuel,  SDTC,  

Enerkem
Date: 2017-09-18
Following on our May 3rd coverage, Montreal-headquartered biofuels and renewable chemicals from waste specialist Enerkem Inc. reports it has begun commercial production of cellulosic ethanol at its facility in Edmonton, AB, Canada. The plants is the world's first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol from non-recyclable, non-compostable mixed municipal solid waste, according to Enerkem.

The company has been producing and selling biomethanol since 2016, prior to expanding production to include cellulosic ethanol with the installation of its methanol-to-ethanol conversion unit earlier this year. (Source: Enerkem, PR, 15 Sept., 2017) Contact: Enerkem, Vincent Chornet, Pres., CEO, Annie Pare, Communications, (514) 875-0284, x. 251, apare@enerkem.com, www.enerkem.com

More Low-Carbon Energy News Enerkem,  Biofuels,  Cellolosic Ethanol,