Alder Renewables, Bioénergie team up for SAF project in Canada

Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord have teamed up to announce Project Avance to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) from sawmill residues in Port-Cartier, Québec, Canada.

The project will be one of the first biomass-to-SAF production facilities in North America with production is scheduled to begin in 2027.

“Project Avance represents a pivotal moment in sustainable aviation,” said Darren Fuller, chief commercial officer, Alder Renewables. “By converting underutilised and sustainably sourced forest residuals into high-value renewable fuels, we’re creating a solution that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.”

The project will deploy Alder Renewables technology to convert bio-oil currently produced at the Port-Cartier Bioénergie AECN plant which is a joint venture between sawmill operator Arbec Forest Products and integrated forestry operations company Groupe Rémabec.

The project will demonstrate the entire pathway from certified sustainable forest residuals into low-carbon crude, which will then be refined into SAF – and other low carbon transportation fuels.

It leverages existing forestry infrastructure and aligns with Canada’s Aviation Action Plan, which calls for 1bn liters of SAF by 2030.

“Project Avance will be located at Arbec Lumber’s integrated plant, which currently supports sustainable technologies to produce both renewable fuel oil and biochar,” said Serge Mercier, president of Bioénergie AECN. “Our facility in Port-Cartier already converts forest and sawmill residuals into bio-oil renewable products — Project Avance will take this to the next level.”