Expander Energy will use Axens FT Liquid Upgrading technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel made from cellulosic raw materials in Canada.
The Canadian company selected Axens as the supplier of Fischer-Tropsch (FT) fluid enhancement technology for its biofuel projects second generation. The solution will be integrated with Expander Energy’s patented EBTL® and BETL® processes to obtain liquid fuels compatible with the existing energy infrastructure.
The technology will initially be implemented in two commercial projects, one is the Wheatland Bio-Synfuels Facility, near Calgary, Alberta, and the second is the Mackenzie Biomass Derived E-Fuels Facility, located in northern British Columbia.
In addition, Expander Energy selected Axens as a strategic supplier for a broader portfolio of projects aimed at producing SAF and renewable diesel, including fuels geared towards Arctic applications.
FT technology to transform biomass into fuels
FT Liquid Upgrading technology Axens will form part of the process developed by Expander Energy to convert cellulosic raw materials into second generation biofuels.
Its application will be linked to two technologies patented by the Canadian company, one of which is Enhanced Biomass to Liquids (EBTL®) and the other one is Biomass Electrolysis to Liquids (BETL®).
Through these processes, Expander aims to produce liquid fuels that can be integrated into existing distribution and consumption chains without requiring significant infrastructure changes. Key products include sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel.
The company is considering using forestry and agricultural waste as raw materials, this approach allows for the use of cellulosic resources to produce fuels with lower carbon intensity and to diversify the sources used in the manufacture of biofuels.
Axens, for its part, provides technologies related to the conversion of oil and biomass into fuels, as well as solutions for refining, natural gas treatment, carbon capture and the production of petrochemical intermediates.
Expander Energy moves forward with two projects in Canada
The first commercial application of the technology is planned for the Wheatland Bio-Synfuels Facility, located near Calgary, in Alberta.
The second project will be the Mackenzie Biomass Derived E-Fuels Facility, located in northern British Columbia. Both facilities are part of Expander Energy’s strategy to expand Canadian production of synthetic fuels derived from biomass.
Currently, both projects are progressing through their respective regulatory and financial processes, and the company aims to reach the final investment decision (FID) in December 2026. The FID will be a decisive step, as it will allow us to define the progress towards the commercial execution of the facilities and the development of the next stages of construction.
Axens will support a broader portfolio of SAF and renewable diesel
The collaboration between the two companies will not be limited to the projects in Alberta and British Columbia, Expander Energy also selected Axens as a strategic supplier of upgrade technology for other developments aimed at the production of sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel intended, among other uses, for the Arctic market.
In this way, FT Liquid Upgrading technology will have a broader role within Expander Energy’s portfolio, supporting the development of new routes to transform biomass into lower carbon-intensity liquid fuels.
Source: Hydrocarbon Processing
Photo: Shutterstock
