Dr. Esteban Chornet_Research Facility Grand Opening in Edmonton Alberta

The Enerkem Story

It all started with a desire to do better

Scroll to discover

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:

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.

Esteban Chornet

Cofounder and Director Emeritus

Vincent Chornet

Cofounder

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.
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.
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.
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.
2014
Enerkem Alberta Biofuels is inaugurated

Enerkem inaugurates its first-of-a-kind waste-to-fuel commercial plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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.
Learn more
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.
Discover EAB
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.
Discover VCR
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.

Discover Ecoplanta
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.

Learn more