Together with Boeing, Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord, and Alder Renewables, we are launching Project Avance to produce SAF from sawmill residues in Port-Cartier, Québec. Boeing is investing CAD $10 million in the project as part of its Industrial and Technological Benefits commitment to Canada. The project will use Alder’s technology to produce Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) for refining into SAF and other hydrocarbon fuels.
Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord (AECN) and Alder Renewables are partnering on Project Avance, an initiative to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from sawmill residues in Port-Cartier, Québec. Boeing is investing CAD $10 million (US $7.2 million) in the project as part of its Industrial and Technological Benefits commitment to Canada. The project has the potential to scale to 10 million gallons of SAF annually in Québec.
Transforming Sawmill Residues into Renewable Fuels
Project Avance will deploy Alder Renewables’ Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) process to convert bio-oil from the Port-Cartier Bioénergie AECN plant—a joint venture between Arbec Forest Products and Groupe Rémabec—into a stable, refinery-ready intermediate. That ARC will then be upgraded through hydrotreating into SAF and other renewable fuels.
Driving Canada’s Clean Energy Commitments
This initiative aligns with Canada and Québec’s clean energy goals by creating high-paying jobs, leveraging existing forestry infrastructure, and supporting Canada’s Aviation Action Plan, which calls for 1 billion liters of SAF by 2030.
Partner Perspectives
“Project Avance will be located at Arbec Lumber’s integrated plant, which already produces renewable fuel oil and biochar,” said Serge Mercier, CPA, President of Bioénergie AECN. “This partnership takes us to the next level… creating new revenue streams for a legacy industry and helping decarbonize one of the hardest-to-abate sectors: aviation.”
“Project Avance represents a pivotal moment in sustainable aviation,” said Derek Vardon, CEO, Alder Renewables. “By converting sustainably sourced forest residuals into renewable fuels, we can cut emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional jet fuel.”
“This significant investment in SAF production demonstrates our commitment to scaling sustainable aviation fuel and to our work in Canada,” said Al Meinzinger, President, Boeing Canada.
Looking Ahead
Project Avance will serve as an innovation hub for SAF development, testing, and certification. The partners are working with both federal and provincial governments to secure additional support and position Québec as a leader in sustainable aviation.
Building momentum with technology validation, strategic partnerships, and new projects
ARC Bio demonstrates a pathway to convert Canadian forest residues into refinery-ready biocrude and ultimately jet-range fuel through refinery co-processing. The campaign produced barrel-scale ARC, demonstrated FCC co-processing and generated a SAF blend that met key ASTM fuel-property specifications, while generating data to support future commercial-scale deployment.
Project Avance demonstrates a scalable, cost‑effective path to advanced biofuels by converting forestry residues into refinery‑ready ARC. The pilot campaign met performance targets, showing scientific and operational progress. By leveraging existing pyrolysis and refinery infrastructure, the approach reduces costs, enhances energy security, and proves abundant biomass can deliver viable low‑carbon fuels.
Together with Boeing, Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord, and Alder Renewables, we are launching Project Avance to produce SAF from sawmill residues in Port-Cartier, Québec. Boeing is investing CAD $10 million in the project as part of its Industrial and Technological Benefits commitment to Canada. The project will use Alder’s technology to produce Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) for refining into SAF and other hydrocarbon fuels.