Canadian thermochemical technology developer, Enerkem, has officially inaugurated its first full-scale municipal solid waste (MSW) to biofuels and chemicals facility in Edmonton, Alberta.

Based in Montreal, Quebec, Enerkem is a Canadian thermochemical technology developer specialised in converting non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW) into renewable platform chemicals and biofuels such as methanol and ethanol. The company has now officially inaugurated its first full-scale MSW to biofuels and chemicals facility in Edmonton, Alberta. Once fully operational the plant will convert around 100 000 tonnes of post-sorted MSW per annum into 38 million litres of renewable fuels and chemicals per annum. The methanol production will begin progressively during the start-up and a module to convert the methanol into ethanol will be added by the end of 2015. The facility will help the City of Edmonton increase its residential waste landfill diversion rate to 90 percent. The project is a collaboration between Enerkem, the City of Edmonton and Alberta Innovates – Energy and Environment Solutions. Enerkem already operates both a demonstration plant and a pilot facility in Quebec.
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