The research center will focus on the development and demonstration of novel catalytic conversion processes to produce advanced biofuels and green chemicals from non-hazardous industrial waste (generated by the oil and gas, agricultural, forestry and other industrial sectors), as well as from municipal waste. It will be adjacent to the planned commercial waste-to-biofuels production facility, which is ready for construction and has already been announced by Enerkem. "Enerkem is a proud partner in this novel project, which focuses on innovative technologies and research for tomorrow's carbon constrained reality," said Vincent Chornet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerkem.
"This research center will become an important component in furthering our company's dedication to innovation, allowing us to attract some of the country's brightest minds." The research center will include laboratory equipment and a well-instrumented pilot plant. It will welcome top researchers from Alberta and throughout Canada, particularly those specialized in thermo-catalysis, to take part in developing a new line of alcohol and hydrocarbon fuels suitable for tomorrow's reality. Construction of the research center is scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2010. Enerkem will develop the center in collaboration with the City of Edmonton. AERI is contributing $9 million to the project. The research center is part of a comprehensive waste-to-biofuels initiative between the City of Edmonton, Enerkem, and the government of Alberta, through AERI. In addition to the research center, this initiative includes the 36-million liters per year commercial waste-to-biofuels production facility and a municipal waste processing facility being built by the City of Edmonton. Enerkem announced in May 2009 that the commercial waste-to-biofuels production facility has successfully completed the necessary environmental regulatory process and had been granted a permit to commence construction.
About Enerkem Enerkem (www.enerkemweb.wpengine.com) is a leading waste-to-biofuels and green chemicals technology company. It has developed a unique gasification, sequential gas conditioning and catalysis technology platform, capable of using a mix of feedstock, such as sorted municipal solid waste, forest biomass and agricultural residues. The company is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, and has engineering offices in Sherbrooke, Quebec. It has a pilot plant, in operation since 2003, in Sherbrooke, Quebec. Enerkem's first commercial-scale plant is based in Westbury, Quebec. The company is also involved in the development of a municipal waste-to-biofuels plant in Edmonton, Alberta, and recently announced the development of a second-generation biofuels production facility to be located in Pontotoc, Mississippi. Enerkem is a private company, financed by leading US venture capital firms Rho Ventures and Braemar Energy Ventures, the Canadian investment fund BDR Capital and the Company's management.
About the City of Edmonton The City of Edmonton (www.edmonton.ca) is at the forefront of waste management practices having established the leading Edmonton Waste Management Centre (EWMC) and associated Centre of Excellence. The EWMC is North America's largest collection of modern, sustainable waste processing and research facilities. Facilities at the 233-hectare site include a Materials Recovery Facility, the Edmonton Composting Facility, the GEEP Electric and Electronic Waste Recycling Facility, the Clover Bar Landfill, a leachate treatment plant, a landfill gas to electricity system, a construction and demolition waste recycling operation, and a research facility.
At the development stage is the waste-to-biofuels project. About Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI) The mission of the Alberta Energy Research Institute (www.aeri.ab.ca) is to increase the energy industry's capacity to develop and adapt innovative technologies that maximize the value of Alberta's natural and renewable resources. AERI develops and implements the energy innovation strategy for Alberta and, in partnership with industry and other government agencies, invests in collaborative applied research, technology development and pilot demonstrations along the entire innovation chain. AERI's six strategic programs areas are: Bitumen Upgrading, Clean Carbon/Coal, Improved Recovery, Renewables, CO2 & Emissions and Water Use.
Marie-Hélène Labrie, Vice-President, Government Affairs and Communications, Enerkem Inc., (514) 875-0284 x 231,
mlabrie@enerkem.com
