SUBSCRIBE
PROFILE

Carbonité launches Canada’s largest biochar plant with 10,000-tonne capacity

Joint venture between Airex Énergie, Groupe Rémabec and SUEZ begins industrial biochar production in Port-Cartier, targeting 30,000 tonnes annually by 2026.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

START NOW — 4.90€/month

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

SUBSCRIBE — 99€/year

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Sign up for free to unlock this article

Carbonité, Canada’s first industrial-scale biochar plant, has officially opened in Port-Cartier. The site, established as a joint venture between Airex Énergie, Groupe Rémabec and SUEZ, begins operations with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tonnes, with plans to triple that volume by 2026, making it the largest such facility in North America.

Production capacity expected to grow rapidly

The plant processes approximately 58,000 tonnes of forest residues per year sourced from Groupe Rémabec’s operations. This raw material is converted into biochar using Airex Énergie’s patented CarbonFX and DryFX technologies through pyrolysis – a high-temperature carbonisation process without oxygen. At full capacity, the plant is designed to sequester up to 75,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year.

This level of sequestration enables the generation of certified carbon credits. German-based First Climate has already signed an agreement to purchase 36,000 credits over the first three years of operation. Additionally, the production process generates energy-rich by-products, such as steam and pyrolytic oil, which can be used as industrial fuels.

Wide range of industrial applications for biochar

Biochar serves multiple industrial applications. In agriculture, it is used as a soil amendment to improve water retention, fertility, and crop yields. When incorporated into concrete or asphalt, it enhances material performance while reducing their carbon footprint.

Municipalities are also using biochar to build rainwater absorption infrastructure or rehabilitate contaminated soils. This versatility positions biochar as a technical solution for various industries seeking decarbonisation strategies.

Government support for the project

The Carbonité project received over CAD16mn ($11.74mn) in combined financial support from the governments of Québec and Canada. The facility is creating 75 direct and indirect jobs in the Côte-Nord region, revitalising a previously idle industrial site in Port-Cartier.

Airex Énergie and SUEZ aim to build a global biochar production capacity of 350,000 tonnes per year by 2035. This roadmap is based on the gradual international expansion of similar projects.

  • Popular on energynews.pro
Ukraine plans to increase gas imports by 30% after Russian strikes
Spanish solar producers warn of impact from negative electricity prices
JANAF and MOL begin crucial talks on Central European oil transport
Ameresco signs $197mn contract to modernise NRL’s energy infrastructure
Ares Management acquires 49% stake in US energy portfolio from EDPR
Indian investors bet on Biochar under regulated offtake agreements
Biochar projects are drawing investor interest in India, but signing regulated offtake contracts has become essential to ensure market compliance and financial stability in the carbon sector.
EDF power solutions commissions 30 MW biomass plant in Colombia
EDF power solutions and Refocosta have inaugurated Colombia’s largest wood biomass power plant in Villanueva, with 30 MW of capacity and an annual output of 200 GWh injected into the national grid.
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners launches 200 GWh bioLNG project in Finland
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners invests in Nivalan Biokaasu, Finland’s largest bioLNG plant, with construction set to begin in late 2025 and operations scheduled for 2027.
Dutch parliament approves RED III, reassuring biofuels market participants
The Netherlands' lower house voted to adopt RED III, including technical amendments, paving the way for timely transposition by January 1, 2026, in line with EU commitments.
Technip Energies secures two major contracts for Ecoplanta methanol plant in Spain
Technip Energies has secured two engineering contracts from Repsol for an innovative waste-to-methanol facility in Tarragona, Spain, marking a strategic milestone in its partnership with Enerkem.
CVE invests €19.7mn in its first methanisation unit in Occitanie
Energy producer CVE Biogaz launches a facility in Tarn capable of processing 21,500 tonnes of biowaste per year to produce biomethane injected into the local gas network.
Australia: Government excludes hydrogen and used oils from bioenergy strategy
Australia refocuses its national biomass plan on agriculture and forestry, excluding green hydrogen and urban waste from eligible feedstocks.
Washington pushes higher biodiesel quotas to support soybean producers
A bipartisan group of 47 lawmakers is calling on the US Environmental Protection Agency to maintain high biodiesel quotas to support local agriculture affected by falling exports to China.
Subsidised bio-LNG gains ground in Europe as price gap narrows
Subsidised bio-LNG is gaining traction in European maritime transport, supported by strong demand and a narrowing price gap with unsubsidised volumes.
Renova commissions 49.9MW Karatsu biomass plant after delays
Renova and its partners have launched commercial operations at the Karatsu biomass power plant, converted to the FIP scheme to secure a long-term power purchase agreement.
Global Bioenergies placed under judicial reorganisation pending potential buyer
The commercial court of Évry has initiated judicial reorganisation proceedings for Global Bioenergies, with no buyout offer submitted to date, leaving open the possibility of liquidation.
Canada Infrastructure Bank loans $660mn to Irving Pulp & Paper for mill upgrade
Irving Pulp & Paper secures a $660mn loan to modernise its Saint John pulp mill, with new facilities capable of generating up to 145 MW of exportable electricity.
Greenlane secures $7.9mn in biogas desulfurization equipment orders across Europe
Canadian supplier Greenlane recorded $7.9mn in third-quarter orders through its subsidiary Airdep, confirming growing demand for its biogas desulfurization systems in Europe and the Americas.
Qualitas Energy commissions its first biomethane site in the United Kingdom
Spanish group Qualitas Energy inaugurated the Three Maids facility near Winchester, an anaerobic digestion plant able to produce 120 GWh of biomethane annually from agricultural waste.
Ottawa allocates $370mn to support Canadian canola sector amid Chinese tariffs
The federal government is granting $370mn to Canadian canola producers affected by a 75.8% tariff imposed by China, and is introducing fiscal and regulatory measures to strengthen the domestic biofuel industry.
BTG Bioliquids and NanosTech to launch 500-barrel-per-day modular biorefinery
Netherlands-based BTG Bioliquids and Canada’s NanosTech join forces to develop a modular solution for advanced biofuel production, with a project underway in Europe and Canada.
Teréga and GRDF deploy new biomethane backfeed station in Moncrabeau
Teréga and GRDF have commissioned a backfeed station in Lot-et-Garonne, showcasing their cooperation to adapt gas networks to the rise of locally produced biomethane in Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
Indonesia advances waste-to-energy incineration with support from SUS ENVIRONMENT
An Indonesian ministerial delegation visited China to explore waste-to-energy solutions, as the country moves forward with a $200mn project in Makassar.
Anaergia signs $13.23mn contract with Nortegas for biomethane plant in Spain
Anaergia’s Italian subsidiary has been selected by Nortegas Renovables to build a biomethane facility in Andalusia using agricultural residues.
Mondi invests €120mn in biomass power plant in Slovakia to cut energy reliance
Mondi SCP will build a new biomass power plant in Ružomberok to boost energy self-sufficiency from 75% to 90% by 2027, with a €120mn ($129mn) investment supported by the European Union’s Modernisation Fund.