Enerkem produces SAF from forest biomass
Enerkem, one of the leading companies in the generation of biofuels, has made significant progress in the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). It has been obtained from carbon originating from forest biomass.
Specifically, the company has achieved this breakthrough through its proprietary thermochemical process at Enerkem’s Innovation Center in Westbury, Quebec. The next step for Enerkem will be a demonstration phase, which in turn will lead to the commercialization of this biofuel for aviation.
Biofuels environmental impact
The importance of SAF lies in the fact that the aviation sector accounts for 3% of global GHG emissions, greatly affecting the carbon footprint. Therefore, the transformation of waste into sustainable aviation fuel is presented as a future solution. The main objective is to eliminate emissions from the sector by 2050.
At the moment, Sustainable Aviation Fuel can be produced from waste materials, corn, and CO2. However, as part of The Sky’s the Limit Challenge project. Enerkem is working on a fourth source: forest biomass.
“Our diligent and innovative approach in developing our forest biomass conversion technology has enabled us to produce a sustainable aviation fuel that will reduce the full life cycle carbon emissions of the aviation industry by over 90 percent compared to conventional fuel.”
“This breakthrough will allow travelers to take flights that emit significantly less GHGs,” affirms Michel Chornet, Enerkem’s executive vice president, engineering, innovation and operations.
So far, we acknowledge that Enerkem’s jet fuel is in the process of being certified by Canadian, U.S. and European authorities.
Once these processes are completed, the company will continue with the commercialization of biofuel in its plants. They already have the necessary infrastructure in place.
Sustainable aviation
The ecological approach is based on converting atmospheric CO2 into biomass molecules, which will later be transformed into biofuels and bioproducts to be marketed.
In addition, biofuel involves numerous benefits: creating partnerships with local communities, sustainable economic development, job creation in the region, reduction of urban landfill biomass and valorization of residual forest biomass.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel market
The company currently owns a biofuel plant in Edmonton (Alberta) and is building a new facility in Varennes (Quebec). This second plant will process forest biomass, as well as non-recyclable and non-compostable waste.
In addition, due to the significant demand for sustainable aviation fuel, it will convert the Rotterdam plant in the Netherlands.
In the words of Dominique Boies, CEO and CFO of Enerkem: “The planned production at this plant will now focus on the conversion of waste materials into aviation fuels rather than renewable chemicals. The commercialization potential is there and we believe in it.”
Source
Biomassmagazine.com. 2021. Enerkem produces SAF from forest biomass | Biomassmagazine.com. [online] Available at: <http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/18478/enerkem-produces-saf-from-forest-biomass> [Accessed 16 November 2021].