August 28, 2017 – Jim Lane, Biofuels Digest – When it comes to project action, Go North, young man. Canada’s hot and the technology’s cool.
The colder weather might be just around the corner for Canada, but when it comes to the advanced bioeconomy, think Hot Spots. The country is replete with ’em. From projects to process for new fuels, chemicals, materials and wealth creation – here are 10 places where the advanced bioeconomy future is being unveiled.
1. Ottawa, ON
2. Montreal, QC
3. The Sarnia, Ontario bioindustrial complex
From a project development POV, the center of the Digest cinematic universe right now is Sarnia, which has projects up and going up in record numbers.
In March, we reported that Comet Biorefining had successfully closed an investment round to fund its proposed cellulosic sugar production facility using stover and wheat straw as feedstock. PM Equity Partnership, the corporate venture and private equity investment arm of Philip Morris International, led the financing round that was also joined by Bioindustrial Innovation Canada (BIC) and Sofinnova Partners. The investment brings the company closer to its goal of having its 60 million pound per year facility online next year as planned.
In support of that Comet project, we reported in June that the Cellulosic Sugar Producers Cooperative (CSPC) has so far recruited 20% of its 55,000-acre goal to secure the crop residue required for Comet Biorefining’s facility that should be online next year. The Coop has begun a campaign to recruit more members in Lambton County, Huron County, and Chatham-Kent, requiring a one-time investment of C$200 per acre and a C$500 membership fee. Members must join with a minimum of 100 acres of corn stover or wheat straw.
More than cellulosic sugar capacity is on the way. We reported (also in June) that S2G Biochem has started work on the company’s first standalone biorefinery demonstration plant that it intends to build in Sarnia, Ontario.
The commercial-scale facility will refine local, sustainable forestry and agricultural residues using S2G’s patented process to produce the lowest-cost and highest-value food ingredient xylitol available on the market today while co-producing value-add bioglycols for a new generation of consumer, industrial and packaging and products. The S2G facility is considered a major advance in biorefinery development in Canada. It will have the capacity to produce over 2,000 MT/year of high-value xylitol and coproducts utilizing a range of feedstocks from forestry and agricultural residues. Basic engineering for the facility is underway and construction is expected to begin in 2018. The build-out and operation of the facility is projected to create 13 permanent jobs with more required during construction and testing.
One of the most fascinating projects slated for next year is also located in the area. We reported in March 2017 that FORGE Hydrocarbons Corp. is developing a technology that transforms low-value fats, oils and greases into fuel. The objective of this project is to continue the accomplishments of the 200,000 litre per year pilot plant, which was supported by investments from Western Economic Development Canada and Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency Ltd. with the construction of a pre-commercial demonstration plant. The first of its kind in Canada, this lipid to hydrocarbon plant will produce renewable liquid hydrocarbons with a production capacity of 25 million litres per year.
4. Varennes, QC
5. Port-Cartier, QC
6. Prince George, BC
7. Aylmer, ON
8. Saskatoon, SK
9. Edmonton, AB
10. Chester, NS
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