Key Takeaways
• Project Avance will produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel from forest leftovers at Port-Cartier, Québec, starting production in 2027.
• The initiative may cut aviation greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%, supporting Canada’s goal for 1 billion liters SAF by 2030.
• Partnership includes Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord, backed by government and offering significant local economic benefits.
Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord are making big moves with Project Avance, a new plan to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from leftover wood and plant material at Port-Cartier in Québec. Their partnership, announced on May 8, 2025, is set to build one of the first places in North America that turns biomass—which is waste from forests and sawmills—into SAF. These fuels are better for the environment than regular plane fuel, and production is planned to start in 2027.
This article breaks down why Project Avance matters for both Canada and the world, how it works, who’s involved, and what it could mean for the future.
Bringing Sustainable Aviation Fuel to Port-Cartier
Project Avance is all about turning things that most people throw away—like sawdust and small branches left from cutting wood—into something valuable: clean fuel for airplanes. Normally, these leftovers might sit around or get burned, releasing pollution into the air. But here, they are the main ingredient for making SAF, which is a type of jet fuel that doesn’t pollute as much.
Darren Fuller, the Chief Commercial Officer at Alder Renewables, says Project Avance’s method can cut the greenhouse gases produced by flying planes by as much as 80% compared to what comes from regular jet fuel. This means that flying from one city to another would be much cleaner for the planet if these fuels are used.
Project Avance stands out because it will:
- Use Alder Renewables’ special technology to change bio-oil (made at the Port-Cartier Bioénergie AECN plant) into a cleaner crude oil called Alder Renewable Crude (ARC).
- Show, start to finish, how leftover bits from certified sustainable forests turn into ARC and then into SAF.
- Make low-polluting fuels and possibly other types of clean fuels for transport beyond airplanes.
The work will happen right at Arbec Lumber’s plant, which already uses green technologies to make renewable fuel oil and a product called biochar, another cleaner material made from wood.
Who Is Behind the Project Avance Partnership?
Two major groups teamed up for Project Avance:
- Alder Renewables: A company focused on creating clean fuels from plant waste.
- Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord (AECN): A joint effort between Arbec Forest Products and Groupe Rémabec, both big names in forest work and wood processing.
Working together, these experts use both new technology and years of experience with trees and wood. Bioénergie AECN, for instance, already turns sawmill leftovers into a special type of oil called bio-oil at Port-Cartier. With Project Avance, they will take what they’re already doing and add even more value by making aviation fuel.
Serge Mercier, President of Bioénergie AECN, said their site at Port-Cartier is already set up to make renewable products from forest leftovers. Now, Project Avance means they can do even more—leading in new ways to make air travel cleaner.
How Does the Technology Work? Breaking It Down
Project Avance is based on clever chemistry, but the steps are pretty simple when you break them down:
- Collect Forest and Sawmill Leftovers: Workers gather things like sawdust, chips, and small unused wood pieces from nearby forests and sawmills.
- Make Bio-Oil: These leftovers are processed at the Port-Cartier plant to make bio-oil, a thick liquid made from plants.
- Turn Bio-Oil into Alder Renewable Crude (ARC): Using patented methods, this bio-oil is changed into ARC, which is much cleaner than old-style oil.
- Refine ARC into SAF: Next, the ARC goes through more steps to turn it into Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
- Use SAF in Planes and for Testing: This fuel is ready to power today’s airplanes, and it can also be used to try out new types of clean fuels.
This process makes good use of what would otherwise be waste. Instead of burning or dumping leftovers, they become the building blocks of future energy.
Why Is Project Avance So Important?
The world is trying to fight climate change, and one of the toughest places to do that is air travel. Planes burn a lot of fuel and send out greenhouse gases that warm the planet. Finding ways to keep people flying while lowering pollution is a big challenge.
Sustainable Aviation Fuel is one of the best answers we have right now. SAF can go straight into planes that are flying today—no need to change engines or build new airports. Using forest leftovers instead of crops also means no competition with food.
The Canadian government has set a tough goal with its Aviation Action Plan: it wants to replace 1 billion liters of old-style jet fuel with SAF by 2030. Project Avance helps Canada move toward this target, showing what can happen when businesses and governments work together.
Project Avance is also good for Québec’s large forest industry. By turning sawmill scraps into a new product, it creates new ways for the forest sector to make money. This supports logging jobs and brings more money into rural communities. Plus, by doing all this with cleaner energy, it helps keep both forests and the air healthier.
Economic and Social Benefits
There’s more to Project Avance than just making fuel. The whole process will:
- Create new jobs: From collecting forest leftovers to working at the fuel plant, local workers can find long-term jobs in a growing field.
- Grow technology: The plant and its testing center will give companies and students a chance to learn modern clean fuel methods.
- Help communities: As the plant grows, it can support local businesses and bring in more money for Port-Cartier and nearby towns.
Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these benefits could help set a pattern for other places, both in Canada and beyond. Using existing forests and adding new technology lets communities keep up with environmental changes while offering better work options.
Project Avance’s Role in Innovation
SAF has not been made at scale in many places in North America, especially from wood leftover from forests. By taking on this challenge, Project Avance aims to act as a center for new ideas. In the future, researchers might test other renewable fuel ideas and push for new certification rules for different green fuels right at Port-Cartier.
Québec stands to become a leader in this important industry. If Project Avance works as planned, it could be copied in other forest places with lots of wood leftovers. This means renewable energy could spread fast, and both Canada and other countries could move faster toward their clean energy targets.
Support and Government Backing
While companies like Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AECN are leading this project, getting extra help from the government is key. Project teams are talking with the Canadian federal and Québec provincial governments about support for Project Avance.
Government support could come in many forms:
- Funding: Money to help build plant upgrades and buy new equipment.
- Grants or tax breaks: Reducing upfront costs to help get the project running smoother.
- Regulations: Making it easier for new, clean fuels to be used in planes and sold on the market.
This teamwork between government, industry, and community groups is a big reason why Project Avance is seen as such a hopeful step forward.
Environmental Impact
Cutting greenhouse gas emissions is a main goal for this project. By switching to Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Canada could avoid releasing thousands—or even millions—of tons of carbon dioxide over time. This helps protect the climate and makes sure that air travel does not damage the planet as much as before.
For a project to really make a difference, it needs to be “scalable”—meaning it can get bigger or be copied in other places. The hope is that once Project Avance proves the technology works and is safe, other regions in Québec and across Canada can do the same thing. This multiplies the good effects and helps meet climate targets even faster.
For more information about Canada’s efforts in clean energy and aviation, you can visit the Government of Canada’s Canadian Aviation Action Plan page.
Challenges and Next Steps
Like any new idea, Project Avance may face some tough challenges:
- Costs: Building new plants and making new fuels can be expensive at first.
- Market demand: Airlines and airports have to decide to buy and use this new fuel.
- Rules and safety: Government agencies need to check that the fuel is safe for airplanes and that the process stays green and fair.
- Supply of raw materials: The project will need a steady supply of forest leftovers that are collected in a way that does not hurt the forest.
Still, the groups behind Project Avance have a head start because they already run plants that turn wood scraps into useful products. They know how to work with local communities and understand what it takes to get new tech off the ground.
The next steps for Project Avance are to build out its facilities, finalize support from governments, and start regular production so that airlines can fly using SAF made in Port-Cartier.
What Does This Mean for Immigration and Local Communities?
When big new projects like Project Avance come to rural places, they can change the whole area. With plans to open in 2027, Port-Cartier could soon need people who know how to run new machines, move materials, and carry out research. This may make the area more attractive for workers, both from within Canada and—if the need grows—from other countries as well.
Immigration could be a part of meeting these staffing needs, especially for roles like engineers, lab technicians, and experienced plant workers. People with special skills in making renewable fuels or running high-tech equipment might apply to work at Port-Cartier from inside or outside Canada. In turn, such growth brings diversity and new skills to Québec’s smaller towns, creating a community that learns and grows together.
Looking Forward: The Big Picture
Project Avance is a real-world example of how industries can use leftovers to solve big problems. By turning sawmill and woods scraps into clean airplane fuel, it matches Canada’s climate goals, creates jobs, and helps rural communities grow.
If everything moves forward as planned, Port-Cartier will have a one-of-a-kind hub for producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel and testing new clean-energy technologies. The results—lower pollution, stronger forests, and growing towns—show that teamwork between industry, communities, and government pays off.
This project isn’t just about cleaner air. It’s about building a future where people, the environment, and businesses can all thrive together. Project Avance is leading the way for others to follow. For those interested in how new energy projects affect everything from climate change to local jobs and immigration, keeping an eye on developments like Project Avance in Port-Cartier will be important.
With ongoing support and careful planning, this partnership could transform not only the aviation sector but also help shape how renewable energy and smart use of resources shape the economy and communities of tomorrow.
Learn Today
Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) → A cleaner jet fuel made from renewable resources like plant or wood waste, reducing pollution compared to standard jet fuel.
Biomass → Organic material such as wood, sawdust, and plant leftovers, used as a renewable energy source in this project.
Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) → A cleaner, bio-based crude oil produced from bio-oil, used as an intermediate for making Sustainable Aviation Fuel.
Greenhouse Gases → Gases like carbon dioxide that trap heat in the atmosphere and are produced by traditional fossil fuels, causing climate change.
Bio-oil → A thick liquid obtained from processing forest or plant waste, which can be converted into renewable fuels using advanced technology.
This Article in a Nutshell
Project Avance in Port-Cartier, Québec, transforms forest waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel, aiming for commercial production in 2027. Backed by Alder Renewables and Bioénergie AE Côte-Nord, it promises up to 80% fewer emissions and new jobs. The project supports Canada’s clean energy goals and community growth.
— By VisaVerge.com
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