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Dr. Esteban Chornet_Research Facility Grand Opening in Edmonton Alberta

The Enerkem Story

It all started with a desire to do better

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Portrait of the two founders of Enerkem
It all started with a desire to do better

A revolutionary idea to turn trash into green gold

Founded in 2000, Enerkem is the result of a desire to produce biofuels and value-added products from otherwise wasted materials.

Partners we worked with on this project:
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The visionaries who started it all

Our technology was initially inspired by the research and development on gasification of waste materials and syngas conditioning led by Esteban Chornet, Professor Emeritus at the Université de Sherbrooke (Québec, Canada). Professor Chornet and his son Vincent saw the opportunity to further develop this revolutionary technology and bring it to the market by creating Enerkem.

A growing success story

Over the years, Enerkem navigated every stage of development with meticulous care and precision.

  • R&D
    2000

    Enerkem is born

    Esteban and Vincent Chornet launch Enerkem Inc. At the time, Enerkem lives in a lab at the University of Sherbrooke where its founders are conducting research.
  • Sherbrooke Pilot Installation
    2003

    Sherbrooke pilot installation

    A complete working installation is launched in Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada to allow Enerkem to test its technology in a pilot facility supporting the design of the full scale model.
  • Westbury's beginnings with syngas
    2009

    Westbury's beginnings with syngas

    Enerkem launches its new Westbury facility which starts producing synthetic gas. Another step forward in scaling and industrializing the process and technology.
  • Westbury moves to methanol and ethanol productions
    2011 - 2012

    Westbury moves to methanol and ethanol production

    Enerkem’s Westbury facility is updated to produce methanol in 2011 and then ethanol in 2012, demonstrating the adaptability of our approach.
  • Vincent Chornet talks to journalists in front of an Enerkem plant
    2014

    Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is inaugurated

    Enerkem inaugurates its first-of-a-kind waste-to-fuel commercial plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 

  • Livraison methanol 2016
    2016

    A world’s first

    Enerkem Alberta Biofuels becomes the world’s first commercial scale biorefinery producing advanced bio and circular methanol from non-recyclable waste.
  • Livraison ethanol 2019
    2017

    Enerkem Alberta Biofuels produces ethanol

    Enerkem launches the commercial production of cellulosic ethanol. It achieves the lowest carbon intensity to date from the B.C. government, and receives U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approval for ethanol sales in the United States.
  • Work begins at the Varennes Carbon Recycling facility
    2020

    Strategic partnership is announced for Varennes Carbon Recycling

    Enerkem, along with Shell, Suncor and Proman with support of Québec and Canada, announce the construction of the Varennes Carbon Recycling (VCR) plant. The facility will produce biofuels and circular chemicals made from non-recyclable waste and biomass residues.
  • Ecoplanta in Brussels
    2022

    Ecoplanta selected by EU Innovation Fund

    Joint project between Repsol and Enerkem, Ecoplanta was recognized for its highly innovative technology and stands out for its contribution to climate change mitigation, making it worthy of the European Commission’s support from among the over 300 projects submitted through the Innovation Fund.

  • carte-story-today
    Today

    Enerkem’s technology deploying around the world

    The Enerkem Team works with partners around the globe to develop new biorefinery projects to meet the needs of hard-to-abate sectors. 

Get updates on our latest developments