CHAR Technologies Ltd. has completed the first phase of mechanical and electrical construction at its Thorold Renewable Energy Facility, allowing the company to move into commercial biocarbon production and generate its first commercial revenues, Canadian Biomass reported.
The facility is jointly owned on a 50:50 basis by CHAR Tech and The BMI Group (BMI) and is the company’s first commercial facility for renewable energy and biocarbon production.
The company said the facility has reached substantial completion of its mechanical and electrical work and is ready to begin full operations and gradually increase production. Final approvals from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) are required as individual systems are brought online and reach the operating temperature needed for commercial biocarbon and pyrolysis gas production.
CHAR Tech said the project remains on schedule outlined in its August update, with commercial operations expected to build through October. Production and revenue are expected to increase through the end of 2026 as the facility moves towards its full Phase 1 production level.
Phase 1 has been designed to produce up to 5,500 tonnes of biocarbon annually. Customers include ArcelorMittal Dofasco, which plans to use the biocarbon to replace fossil-based carbon in steel production under an earlier announced offtake agreement.
The company said reaching the construction milestone was supported by partnerships across its supply and customer network, including feedstock suppliers, joint venture partners and customers in the steelmaking and ferrosilicon industries.
With Phase 1 substantially completed, CHAR Tech plans to begin Phase 2 construction. The next phase will include a second HTP kiln, equipment to convert synthetic gas into renewable natural gas (RNG), and an onsite pipeline connection for injecting RNG.
“Completing Phase 1 at Thorold marks a critical milestone for CHAR Tech as the Facility transitions to first revenues and establishing ourselves as a leader in the biocarbon industry,” said Andrew White, CEO of CHAR Tech.
“The journey has not been a straight line, and the perseverance of our team, our partners and our shareholders has been critical to reaching this point. There is still hard work ahead as we move towards the RNG phase of construction and production, but this is an enormous leap forward towards that ultimate goal,” White said.
