Edmonton-based SBI Bioenergy is rapidly approaching the commercial launch of a 10 million litre per day renewable fuels plant in the Alberta capital. The company, which has received funding from provincial funding organizations, also landed $10 million from the Climate Change Emissions Management Corp. this week.

“Provincial support and innovation investment have made the difference in allowing SBI to demonstrate its ability to produce clean, sustainable fuels at a large scale,” said Inder Singh, president and CEO at SBI Bioenergy. “When we move to full production, it will mark a turning point for Alberta. Instead of having to import renewable fuels for blending with conventional fuels, we will be able to refine these right here at home at relatively low cost.”

In a few short weeks, the company will be moving into its newly built facility in the Edmonton Research Park. The building will house a demonstration refinery which is in the process of commissioning. It will take several months to be fully operational, but the hope is it will be producing renewable fuel by the end of the year.

SBI intends to build a commercial sized biorefinery that will produce up to 240 million litres per year of renewable fuel by 2018.

The company has developed a technology - it uses a proprietary catalyst instead of hydrogen - to produce renewable diesel, gasoline and jet fuel. The process uses no water and generates no waste.

SBI is currently in negotiations with major energy companies for the supply of renewable diesel and gasoline. Commercial refiners have to import alternative fuels for blending with conventional fuels to meet legislated mandates.

In addition to the CCEMC money, SBI has previously received nearly $2 million from Alberta Innovates Technology Futures and Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions.