FAQs

Enerkem sells directly to refiners, blenders and chemical producers. Our product portfolio currently includes bio-methanol, fuel ethanol (cellulosic) and biomethyl acetate. Other renewable chemicals and fuels are under development.

To obtain specifications and samples of Enerkem products, or discuss product development opportunities, please contact us directly.

Enerkem’s patented technology consists in chemically recycling the carbon contained in non-recyclable and non-compostable municipal solid waste (i.e. garbage). In less than five minutes, the Enerkem process first converts this carbon into synthesis gas, commonly called syngas. The process then makes use of catalyzers already available on the market to transform the syngas into biofuels and chemical products.  Have a look at our website’s Technology page for further details.

Enerkem’s proprietary process is environment-friendly. It recovers non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste (i.e. garbage) which would otherwise end up in a landfill. By replacing a percentage of the fuel we use, Enerkem’s biofuels help reduce our dependence on oil. Another benefit is that the technological platform is quite flexible in terms of both the waste matter that can be processed and the renewable products that can be manufactured. Please view our website’s Technology page for details.

The ethanol produced by Enerkem is a renewable, non-toxic, water-soluble and readily biodegradable fuel. It features a high octane level and promotes better combustion. Go to our website’s Biofuels page for details.

The biggest advantage with ethanol is that the infrastructure for its use is already in place. Today’s vehicles can use as much as 10% or even 15% ethanol in their fuel mix without any engine modifications. Assuming a minimum proportion of 5% ethanol in the fuel mix, the projected production of a single conventional Enerkem facility would provide enough fuel to power 400,000 cars annually.

Methanol is an essential building block in the manufacture of secondary chemicals like olefins, acrylic acid, n-propanol and n-butanol, which products can then be used to make thousands of everyday consumer products like shoes, detergents, and computers. Methanol is also suitable for numerous commercial and industrial applications such as windshield-washer fluid, adhesives, solvents, plastic bottles and polyester textiles.

Enerkem is a private corporation that is not listed on the stock market.

As a rule, we do not offer tours to the general public. However, the city of Edmonton, where Enerkem operates its full-scale facility, does offer guided tours of the Edmonton Waste Management Centre (where Enerkem’s Alberta Biofuels facility is located) for groups of ten or more. Consult the Edmonton website for tour details.

Edmonton’s Advanced Energy Research Facility plays host to a number of specialized researchers. Enerkem provides its technology to this ultra-sophisticated research centre, the result of a partnership with the government of Alberta and the city of Edmonton. Generally speaking, however, we are not currently in a position to lend our support to non-specialized research projects. Full information about our company and its production facilities is available on our website.