Thunder Bay-based Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE) is providing up to $1.5 million to leverage up to $4 million to increase production capacity at Ensyn Technologies’ Renfrew biofuel plant in eastern Ontario.
Ensyn will have a “fast-to-market option” to deliver their petroleum-replacement liquid biofuel produced from forest residues to heating oil customers in Quebec and northeastern United States.
The staff of 14 is expected to double as the plant is brought up to full production capacity from three million litres to 13 million litres annually.
Ensyn’s trademarked RFO liquid biofuel is based on the conversion of wood and other non-food, cellulosic biomass to advanced cellulosic biofuels. It’s used for heating fuel and is also a feedstock for refineries in the production of gasoline and diesel.
Ensyn signed a five year contract with Memorial Hospital of North Conway, New Hampshire for the supply of RFO for heating purposes, replacing petroleum-based fuels.
“This strategic investment by CRIBE not only supports the future of Ensyn’s Renfrew RTP facility but also supports wood based forest industries in the area through the increased use of forest residue at the Renfrew facility,” said Lorne Morrow, CRIBE’s CEO.
