Steeper Energy will build a demo plant in Calgary to transform biowastes into advanced fuels

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Type of post: NEWS IN BRIEF.

The City of Calgary and Steeper Energy Canada Ltd. (Steeper Energy) have announced a new cooperation agreement regarding the future transformation of Calgary’s sewage sludge and other urban generated biowastes for the production of sustainable biofuels such as renewable diesel or jet fuel.
Press release: “Memorandum of Understanding signed by the City of Calgary with Steeper Energy Canada Ltd.”, 2/7/2020.
Related posts: “Steeper Energy is partnering with Silva Green Fuel to construct an advanced biofuels plant at demo scale in Norway”, 16/12/2017.

Figure 1. Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in South-East Calgary (taken from the press release)

Steeper Energy is a Danish-Canadian clean-fuel company focused on commercializing their proprietary Hydrofaction™ technology, an implementation of hydrothermal liquefaction which applies supercritical water as a reaction medium for the conversion of biomass directly into a high-energy density renewable crude oil, referred to as Hydrofaction™ Oil. The process converts biowastes (including sewage sludge, food or forestry wastes) into renewable biofuels. In addition to biofuel production, the process converts and eliminates wastewater contaminants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals and isolates heavy metals. Hydrofaction® allows also for the capture of beneficial nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which can later be made available as fertilizer for farmers. Currently, the company is building a first pilot plant in Denmark.

The MoU formalizes the intent of The City of Calgary and Steeper Energy to see the development of a demonstration plant at the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in South-East Calgary. The City has agreed to host Steeper Energy at its state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, as well as to supply a small portion of Calgary’s primary and secondary sewage sludge to produce advanced biofuels. Upon concluding final arrangements with Calgary and the approval from Steeper’s board of directors, the project could break ground in early 2021.

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