Enerkem Opens Waste-to-Energy unit in Alberta

Enerkem Inc. has opened a waste-to-biofuels and chemicals facility in Edmonton, Alberta.

The facility, operated by a subsidiary of Montreal-based Enerkem, Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, is the company’s first full-scale municipal waste-to-energy (WTE) unit and one of the first commercial facilities built to produce renewable chemicals and advanced biofuels, the company said in a news release.

The unit is a collaboration between Enerkem, the city of Edmonton and the governmental arm Albert Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions. The facility has the capacity to produce up to 38 million liters (10 million gallons) annually. It will allow the city to increase its waste diversion rate to 90 percent, and generate economic spending of about $65 million (Canadian) annually, or $60 million U.S.

Biomethanol production will progress during start-up, and Enerkem will add a module converting it into advanced ethanol by the end of 2015.