A biofuel enterprise in Northern Ontario has secured over $5 million in provincial support to establish a specialized demonstration facility. Located at a paper mill in Thunder Bay, the Greenwater Technology project aims to transform wood byproducts and underutilized forest biomass into sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel. This initiative is designed to prove that the company’s unique thermal processing method can operate effectively on a commercial scale, turning raw wood materials into high-yield liquid energy more efficiently than traditional techniques.
The project aligns with a broader regional strategy to modernize the local forestry industry and create new economic opportunities by repurposing older industrial infrastructure. By collaborating with local academic and engineering partners, the effort seeks to establish a sustainable supply chain for cleaner fuels, addressing a growing global demand for eco-friendly transit alternatives. If successful, this technology could eventually be implemented at various other mills throughout the region, strengthening the forest-based economy while contributing to carbon reduction goals.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) is a biofuel used to power aircraft that has similar properties to conventional jet fuel, but with a smaller carbon footprint. SAF, which is made from renewable biomass and waste-based feedstocks, can be used in all existing turbine aircraft, and reduces aviation lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by as much as 80%.
