Construction begins on Edmonton advanced energy research facility

Sep. 15, 2009, Montreal – Enerkem has participated in the sod-turning event held by its partners, the City of Edmonton and the Government of Alberta, to signify the start of construction on their joint advanced energy research facility. The facility is part of a comprehensive waste-to-biofuels initiative.
The ceremony was hosted by the Honourable Doug Horner, minister of advanced education and technology in Alberta, and Edmonton City Councillor, Tony Caterina.

The research facility is part of a comprehensive waste-to-biofuels initiative. This initiative includes a commercial waste-to-biofuels facility, which is to be built by Enerkem GreenField Alberta Biofuels, and a municipal waste processing facility, being built by the City of Edmonton.

The research facility, a collaboration between Enerkem, the City of Edmonton, and the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI), will focus on the conversion of various types of waste from industrial sectors and from the municipal sector to produce green transportation fuels and chemicals. It will be adjacent to the commercial waste-to-biofuels production facility, which will soon begin construction and will produce up to 36 million litres of ethanol per year.

Enerkem will conduct advanced research at this research facility, which will be led by Dr. Esteban Chornet, co-founder of Enerkem and a leading scientist in the use of thermo catalysis for developing alternative fuels from waste. The research facility will include laboratory equipment and a well-instrumented pilot plant. Enerkem will develop the research facility in collaboration with the City of Edmonton. Construction completion is scheduled for the first quarter of 2010. Funding for the $10 million center comes from the Government of Alberta through AERI.