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FORGE to build biofuel production plant in Canada

Published by , Assistant Editor
Energy Global,


FORGE Hydrocarbons Corp, a Canadian biofuel start-up, announces an equity investment from Shell Ventures and a follow-on contribution from Valent Low-Carbon Technologies, which will help build a first-of-its-kind CAD$30 million commercial-scale, biofuel production plant in Sombra, Ontario, Canada.

FORGE’s patented Lipid-to-Hydrocarbon (LTH) technology creates renewable jet fuel, diesel and naphtha from waste fats and oils. FORGE’s renewable diesel and jet fuels are greater than 90% less carbon intensive than fossil-based diesel. They are cheaper to produce than conventional renewable diesel and are ‘drop-in’ ready, which means they require no specialised blending infrastructure.

It is widely recognised that the global transport sector accounts for nearly 30% of the world’s energy use and around a quarter of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Different fuels and types of vehicles will be needed to meet the ever-growing demand for transport, while reducing emissions. To continue supplying customers with the fuels they will need in the future, biofuels can play a valuable role in reducing CO2 emissions from the transport sector over the decades ahead.

FORGE is initially targeting the over four-billion-gal. mandated market in North America for renewable diesel and jet-fuels market. FORGE will tap into abundant, low-cost and often untapped lipid feedstocks.

The technology was invented by Dr. David Bressler at the University of Alberta. It was licensed through TEC Edmonton to FORGE which was founded by biofuels entrepreneur Tim Haig, also founder of BIOX Corp, Canada’s first commercial renewable diesel company, now a part of World Energy.

The capacity of the Sombra production plant is 7.5 million gal. of renewable fuels annually. The project will create approximately 150 construction and engineering jobs during the build phase and more than 45 full-time jobs for the commercial operation of the facility.

Shell Ventures joins FORGE’s funders and collaborators including World Energy, Lockheed Martin, Valent Low-Carbon Technologies and Sustainable Development Technology Canada.

The research, development and first pilot facility that enabled Lipid-to-Hydrocarbon technology were made possible by a series of provincial and federal investments from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Alberta Economic Development, Trade and Tourism, Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency, Alberta Innovates, Future Energy Systems: University of Alberta, Natural Resources Canada and Mitacs.

Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/other-renewables/27022020/forge-to-build-biofuel-production-plant-in-canada/

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