Edmonton Waste-to-Biofuels Production Facility
Type of initiative
FCM Green Municipal Fund - Capital Project
Sector
Waste
Project value$129,203,481
Project Type
Capital Project
Sub Sector
MSW to Energy
Grant amount$1,000,000
Program type
GMF
Municipality
City of Edmonton, AB
Loan amount$10,000,000
Status
In Progress
Population
1,010,899
Project timeline
2012 -
Project number
12056
Description
Enerkem, through its affiliate Enerkem Alberta Biofuels, has signed a 25-year agreement with the City of Edmonton to build and operate a plant that will produce and sell biofuels from non recyclable and non compostable municipal solid waste (MSW). As part of the agreement, the city will supply 100,000 dry tonnes of sorted MSW per year. The sorted MSW to be used is the final residue after recycling and composting, which is currently sent to landfill. The project will enable the city to increase its already impressive residential waste diversion rate from 60 to 90 percent, and the plant is expected to produce 36 million litres of methanol and ethanol annually. This is a highly innovative project, using award-winning, industry-leading proprietary thermochemical technology. This project is expected to be among the world's first major collaborations between a metropolitan centre and a waste-to-biofuels producer to turn municipal waste into methanol and ethanol. Prior to participating in this project, Edmonton conducted two GMF funded feasibility studies on waste gasification (GMF 2667 and GMF 7257). With this project, Edmonton intends to preserve and sustain the environment while simultaneously diversifying its economy. (Project description from original funding application)
Applicant
Enerkem Alberta Biofuels LP, AB