The announcement, simultaneously released by CCEMC, was made in Edmonton at ZERO 2014: A Conference for a Low Carbon Future. As a Grand Challenge Round One finalist, Enerkem will receive C$500,000 to further advance its biorefinery technology for the development of green chemicals from waste streams. Finalists were selected from 344 submissions from 37 countries on six continents.
"We are incredibly proud to be recognized for our innovations and their commercial applications. This R&D project is a good example of the full potential of our technology to produce chemicals, in addition to biofuels, by chemically recycling waste streams," said Vincent Chornet, President and CEO of Enerkem. "We are pleased to be in the esteemed company of the other Grand Challenge finalists and believe that together we can transform the way communities around the world take on climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
Since 2010, the CCEMC has committed to fund more than 80 projects that have a combined value of $1.6 billion. They are estimated to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 10 megatonnes by 2020, with additional emissions reductions as technology is commercialized and deployed. A reduction of 10 megatonnes in greenhouse gas emissions is enough to take about 2 million cars off the road.
"The CCEMC is pleased to support Enerkem in their leading efforts to develop a cost-effective technology to convert carbon dioxide into syngas and chemicals using catalytic conversion, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the process," said CCEMC Chair Eric Newell.
About Enerkem
Enerkem makes biofuels and renewable chemicals from waste. With its proprietary technology, Enerkem converts non recyclable municipal solid waste into methanol, ethanol and other widely used chemical intermediates. Headquartered in Canada, Enerkem operates both a demonstration plant and a pilot facility in Quebec. Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, in Edmonton, is the company's first full-scale commercial facility and additional biorefineries are currently being developed in North America and globally. Enerkem's technology and facilities help diversify the energy mix and make greener everyday products while offering a sustainable alternative to landfilling. http://www.enerkemweb.wpengine.com
SOURCE ENERKEM INC.