British Columbia's government gives Enerkem’s second generation ethanol its lowest carbon intensity rating ever

Enerkem, a Canadian waste-to-biofuels and renewable chemicals producer, has received the lowest carbon intensity value ever issued by the British Colombia Ministry of Energy and Mines. The award was given for Enerkem’s second generation ethanol product, under the Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation.

The carbon intensity of Enerkem’s waste-based ethanol has been set at -55 gCO2e/MJ. By comparison, gasoline has a carbon intensity of +88 gCO2E/MJ. The approval from the British Colombia Ministry of Energy and Mines means Enerkem can now start to sell its advanced ethanol in the Canadian province, as well as in Alberta where the company’s production facility is located.

“We are thrilled to be recognised for having the lowest carbon transportation fuel solution ever approved by British Columbia under its Low Carbon Fuel Regulation,” said Vincent Chornet, President and Chief Executive Officer of Enerkem, in a press release. “This clearly demonstrates Enerkem’s clean technology and advanced biofuels provide significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. With the worldwide adoption of Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Standards and the move toward a low carbon global economy, we look forward to working with other jurisdictions in helping them meet their greenhouse gas targets”.

British Columbia introduced its Renewable and Low Carbon Fuel Requirements Regulation to reduce dependency on non-renewable fuels and improve the environmental impact of transportation fuels. The regulation obliges suppliers to progressively decrease the average carbon intensity of their fuels by 10% by 2020.

Enerkem produces low carbon fuels that displace the amount of gasoline needed to fuel cars. Its biofuels are produced from non-recyclable, non-compostable household waste, lowering the amount of waste sent to landfill and in turn lowering methane emissions.