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.
March 26, 2025
The story of Alder Renewables begins with our people. This month, we highlight Bella Brandes, Research Engineer, who has been producing Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) since 2022.
Where do you consider home?
I’m from the island of Oahu and more specifically the valley of Mānoa. I was born and raised here and will always consider Hawai’i to be my home.
What did you study in school?
I graduated from Colorado State University in 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical & Biological Engineering. I also have a minor from CSU in Global and Environmental Sustainability.
What is your favorite park about working for Alder Renewables?
This may be cliché to say, but the people I work with, and seeing how each one shows up with a different form of resiliency and a commitment to helping the company succeed.
What goals are you working towards at Alder Renewables?
At Alder, my goals are threefold. First, I aim to complete the design of a robust 50-gallon batch ARC pilot reactor that can reliably produce the critical ARC volumes needed for downstream testing. Second, I want to develop the project management skills to successfully implement this system in our lab, including operator training, material handling procedures, and all other necessary components. Finally, I plan to integrate our thermal stability work with this new sample generation system to maximize learning and synergy between the two.
What are you most proud of at Alder Renewables?
I am most proud of my contribution to establishing our first laboratory. This has been instrumental in our team’s growth, both technically and as a company.
What are your hobbies? What is something people don’t know about you?
Growing up in Hawai’I, most of my hobbies were ocean-based before moving to Colorado. So, I enjoy surfing, diving for shells, and Hawaiian Outrigger Canoe Paddling to name a few. Pulling from my years living in a landlocked state, I’ve found a love for hiking, mountain biking, and skiing. One thing people might not know about me is that I’m a part of a Hawaiian outrigger canoe club on Oahu, and we compete in many different races, some as long as 27 miles and more!
What are you proud of outside work?
Besides receiving my bachelor’s degree, I am proud of the wonderful community that I’ve built in Colorado, and the work I’m able to do here in Hawai’i, giving back to my community through beach cleanups and a project I volunteer for that uses microorganisms to clean up waterways.
What is a quote you live by?
“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.”- Angela Davis
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