#835: Forge Hydrocarbons: Economics of Small Scale Biodiesel Production

, , ,

Download MP3 Link

Economics and infrastructure requirements are always key considerations when commercializing a new technology.

At Forge Hydrocarbons, its pilot plant currently produces 20 litres an hour of a new fuel from rendering industry waste.

Scaling up to a demonstration plant would push production into the tens of millions of litres per year.

But is it enough to make money?

Dr. David Bressler is scientific advisor to Forge Hydrocarbons.  

DR DAVID BRESSLER:   We think actually even at the demo scale it will be a profitable operation, is where the projections are at.  So we’re pretty excited about that.  And that’s with existing government policy, and carbon tax  If something else comes down the road, is being planned, will just make it better. The technology, because it doesn’t require oxygen or hydrogen like some of the other renewable technologies, we don’t have to get to the massive economies of scale to make individual plants economically competitive.   That’s not saying you couldn’t build a bigger plant and kind of daisy chain a bunch of units together.  But we’re pretty comfortable we’ll be in a good place even at the demo scale.  

Dr Bressler says he is working on two new patents.  One is for the plant’s engineering design. The second is for other product streams.

Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES

Learn more at Innovation Anthology.com

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

Guest

,

, , , ,

Sponsor

Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-01-03