New advanced energy research facility opens in Edmonton

In April, Enerkem participated in the opening of the Advanced Energy Research Facility located in Edmonton. Enerkem provides the core technology for this new, world-class research centre, which is the result of a partnership with the Government of Alberta and the City of Edmonton. Funding for the City-owned facility comes from Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions.

The state-of-the-art Advanced Energy Research Facility is adjacent to Enerkem’s commercial waste-to- biofuels production facility in Edmonton, which will operate under the name Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, and is currently under construction. The research facility will focus on the conversion of various waste into biochemicals and will expand Enerkem’s proprietary technology platform to include additional useful products, such as polymers and higher alcohols.

“By producing fuels and chemicals from waste, Enerkem’s green chemistry contributes to making our everyday products more sustainable and to transition into a bio-economy,” said Vincent Chornet, president and chief executive officer of Enerkem.

“We are proud to take part in this state-of-the-art Advanced Energy Research Facility with our long-standing partners, the City of Edmonton and Alberta Innovates, as it is an important component in furthering our company’s dedication to innovation and the development of additional biochemicals.”

Enerkem’s synthesis gas and chemical intermediates technology platform creates value from carbon-based waste materials. Since the company started scaling-up its technology in 2003, it has achieved 6,000 hours of testing and validation at its pilot and commercial demonstration plants and has produced both biochemicals and biofuels.