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Urban & Ocean Plastics Carbon Recycling

A cleantech solution converting urban and ocean plastics into low carbon transportation fuels

May 2020
Gallery Urban & Ocean Plastics Carbon Recycling 1
Gallery Urban & Ocean Plastics Carbon Recycling 1
01.

Identification

This solution provides a carbon recycling technology using non-recyclable, non-compostable municipal solid waste - namely plastics - to produce low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and chemicals while providing a smart alternative to incineration or landfilling.

As countries struggle to manage urban plastic waste and floating plastics in our oceans, this technology aims at leading the world toward a more circular economy by using waste as a resource to produce sustainable products. This solution helps reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and enables the transition towards a more sustainable and low carbon mobility. This cleantech process converts urban and ocean plastics into a synthetic gas which is then purified in order to be converted into liquid chemicals via catalytic synthesis. Highly scalable, this solution can help SMEs, corporations, governments and cities to meet the worldwide challenge of waste disposal worldwide while producing sustainable and clean fuels for cars, ships and planes.

Label Date May 18, 2020
By Enerkem
From Canada
Maturity stage Small scale commercialization
Looking For Funding opportunities; Partnership opportunities
02.

Implementation Stories

Urban & Ocean Plastics Carbon Recycling by Enerkem
Implemented by Varennes in Québec (Canada) in 2020

Enerkem will soon open a plant in Varennes, Québec where 200,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste and wood waste will be converted into methanol and ethanol annually. Producing over 125 million litres of biofuels a year, the project will avoid landfill and the equivalent CO2 emissions of 50,000 cars annually. The CAD$ 875M project, backed by Shell, Suncor and Proman and the Canadian government, will create 100 permanent green jobs in the area.

Result

200,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste and wood waste will be converted into methanol and ethanol annually. Producing over 125 million litres of biofuels a year, the project will avoid landfill and the equivalent CO2 emissions of 50,000 cars annually.

03.

The environmental benefits

  • The conversion of 1 tonne of mixed plastics will reduce GHG emissions by 600 kg of CO2eq, produce 745 L of ethanol and avoid the production of around 500 L of gasoline from crude oil
  • Reduces dependence on crude oil
  • Reduces GHG emissions related to waste transportation
  • Minimizes or eliminates the disposal of plastics in landfills, incinerators, and leakage to both terrestrial and marine environments
04.

The Financial benefits

  • Takes plastic waste and converts it into low carbon transportation fuels providing a competitive solution generating savings in the range of 10 to 15% lower than traditional solutions
05.

Activity Region

  • /
  • Headquarters
  • Activity
06.

Company Profile

Enerkem

Enerkem converts non-recyclable garbage into cellulosic ethanol, biomethanol and renewable chemicals. Visit our website

View company profile
Headquarters Montréal, QC H3A 2S7, Canada
Contact the Solution Provider Add to Favorites

The information set out above, is solely for the purposes of information and the Solar Impulse Foundation does not provide any guarantee as to its authenticity, completeness or accuracy. This information does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy into, transact or to enter into any agreement with any of the parties or persons mentioned above. Potential investors or interested parties are solely responsible for their investment or business decisions and for performing any due diligence required by the circumstances. The innovator Enerkem has asserted ownership of the intellectual property rights for images, videos, and content showcased above, affirming full and unrestricted usage rights, and has provided explicit permission for the Solar Impulse Foundation to publish such information designated as "public" in the application form.