June 17, 2025
Dr. Derek Vardon, CTO & Interim CEO, Alder Renewables
Today, we are excited to share our recent progress in advancing Alder’s Process Technology to accelerate decarbonization of the marine fuel sector using Alder Pyrolytic Sugars (APS). APS is created using our proprietary biocrude oil fractionation technology, which converts fast pyrolysis oil derived from sustainably sourced biomass into two products: the pyrolytic sugar fraction, resulting in APS, and the pyrolytic lignin fraction, resulting in Alder Renewable Crude (ARC).
Nearly all of the biogenic carbon is efficiently processed into these two product streams during our proprietary process. This efficiency enables both products to be utilized for low-carbon intensity fuels and chemicals – APS as a marine fuel blendstock, and ARC for refining into sustainable aviation fuel, ground transportation fuel, and chemicals.
Alder’s proprietary technology upgrades fast pyrolysis oil into two products, Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) and Alder Pyrolytic Sugars (APS), for use in low-carbon intensity fuels and chemicals.
Non-food, lignocellulosic bio-blendstocks, like APS, are critical as the marine fuel sector faces mounting technical and regulatory challenges in meeting the International Maritime Organization’s decarbonization targets, including the goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Decarbonizing this sector is particularly complex due to the energy density requirements of long-haul shipping and the limited availability of drop-in, low-carbon fuel alternatives compatible with existing engine and bunkering infrastructure.
In partnership with British company Quadrise initial lab testing has been successfully completed at the Quadrise Research Facility to incorporate APS into their bioMSAR™ marine fuel. This cutting-edge fuel is a proprietary emulsified blend of fossil and biofuel components from Quadrise that together comprise a low-carbon alternative. The test results confirm the emulsion stability of APS in bioMSARTM and demonstrate promising marine fuel properties. Under our newly signed Joint Development Agreement, the Quadrise and Alder Renewables team will collaborate to conduct small-scale diesel engine tests later this year. Subject to the success of these tests — and with the agreement of both parties — third-party testing in marine diesel engines would then be completed within twelve months.
This recent demonstration with APS BioMSARTM highlights the potential to address the significant decarbonization challenges facing the global logistics and maritime sector. By deploying non-food, lignocellulosic-derived bioblendstock with favorable physicochemical properties, we can transition — at speed and scale.
We believe this evolution represents a key step towards delivering a technically viable and commercially significant pathway for decarbonizing marine fuels using the Alder Renewables technology package. The combined applications of APS and ARC for decarbonizing transportation fuels drive overall value for the Alder Process Technology solution.
May 8, 2025
Québec, Canada, May 8th, 2025 - Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord are proud to announce Project Avance, a strategic partnership to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from sawmill residues in Port-Cartier, Québec. This new project will establish one of the first biomass-to-SAF production facilities in North America.
"Project Avance represents a pivotal moment in sustainable aviation," said Darren Fuller, Chief Commercial Officer, Alder Renewables. "By converting underutilized 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. Our technology creates a novel viable pathway to help aviation meet its ambitious decarbonization goals, maximizes optionality for our refiners, and supports job growth in regional Québec communities."
Project Avance will deploy Alder Renewables' proprietary 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 Alder Renewable Crude (ARC), which will then be refined into SAF — and other low carbon transportation fuels. Production is expected to begin in 2027.
This new project embodies Canada and Québec's commitments to developing innovative clean energy solutions from forest residues and will create high-paying jobs in the sustainable energy sector. It leverages existing forestry infrastructure and aligns with Canada's Aviation Action Plan, which calls for 1 billion liters of SAF by 2030.
"This partnership is another important step forward for Arbec Forest Products and Groupe Rémabec’s vision and strategic plan to transform the forestry industry. 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, CPA, 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. The technology that we will utilize with our friends at Alder Renewables has the potential for full commercial deployment across Québec's forest regions, creating new revenue streams for a legacy industry, and helping to decarbonize one of the hardest-to-abate sectors: aviation."
The project team is currently working to secure additional support from both the Canadian federal and Québec provincial governments. Project Avance is expected to become an innovation hub for SAF development, offering testing and certification capabilities for other renewable fuel technologies and establishing Québec as a leader in sustainable aviation solutions. For more information about Project Avance and Alder Renewables' technology, or to explore partnership opportunities, visit www.alderrenewables.com.
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