Airex Energy

Climate change is the most pressing issue humanity faces today, and it’s our responsibility to ease the pressure and reduce the carbon footprint stamping down on the environment. But, as the business world pays court to the growing data mesh and metaverse buzz to expand the footprint, the window of opportunity to truly care about our planet is narrowing, leaving a range of environmental concerns on the back burner.

In the face of soaring greenhouse gases and escalating temperatures, businesses must adopt proactive measures to address the impacts of global warming and climate change.

A world-leading climate solution provider, Airex Energy has the mission of decarbonizing the global industries deeply infused in its DNA. It is a large-scale biomass torrefaction specialist ideally positioned to help companies fight climate change and achieve net-zero emissions by delivering a suite of renewable, green carbon solutions. Drawing on its deep technical know-how, Airex Energy develops world-class decarbonization solutions for a sustainable future that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and remove carbon from the atmosphere.

“Sustainability is not just a concept or a fad at Airex Energy; it’s the essence of what we are and how we do business day after day,” says Michel Gagnon, CEO of Airex Energy.

A proprietary, patented torrefaction technology, CarbonFX is at the heart of its excellence. Airex Energy uses this technology to transform biomass, like sawmill by-products, logging residues, and forestland biomass, into biocarbon products, such as biocoal, biochar, and biocarbon.

Airex Energy’s biocoal is torrefied wood pellets, serving as a clean, value-added, readily available drop-in replacement for coal used in power stations and heating plants. As opposed to the traditional coal that generates over 1000 tons of CO2 equivalent per GWh of electricity produced, biocoal provides 13 times less CO2 emissions—equivalent to 70 tons per hour. This reduction in CO2 emissions signifies a positive impact on environmental sustainability.

Besides torrefaction, Airex Energy has developed a high-temperature pyrolysis technology, carbonization, ideal for the large-scale production of its biocarbon and biochar. The process involves subjecting the biomass to a high temperature—around 600 degrees Celsius—in the absence of oxygen. The biomass undergoes carbonization, producing biocarbon and biochar products.

Biocarbon is engineered green carbon for the metallurgical industry. It’s an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum coke, anthracite or coke breeze, ensuring 2.5 times fewer carbon emissions. Biochar, on the other hand, is a fine-grained, highly porous, charcoal-like product made by carbonizing wood or agricultural biomass. It captures and sequesters carbon and is a valuable resource, serving as a soil amendment that improves soil moisture retention and reduces the need for fertilizers. It can also be used in the cement and asphalt industries as an additive providing significant technical enhancement.

The value that Airex Energy brings to the table is not just limited to these three products; it uses the simple and reliable CarbonFX technology to produce sustainable aviation fuel, ideal for addressing the need for environmentally friendly alternatives in the industry.

“Our novel CarbonFX technology is designed with a compact configuration that helps ensure unmatched quality, consistency, and homogeneity while delivering economic efficiency,” says Gagnon.

Compared to other solutions and technologies, CarbonFX comes with minimal operational complexities, making it easy to implement. Its lower capital expenditure (Capex) and operating expenses (Opex) add an additional layer of benefit for customers.

With such a perfect line of capabilities, Airex Energy is equipped to effectively address the urgent demand for emission reductions. Its collaboration with Suez is set to revolutionize the biochar market, targeting an impressive 350,000-ton capacity by 2035. The company’s dedication to excellence is evident in its ongoing 85 million dollar investment for a 30,000-ton biochar project in Quebec, Canada, scheduled to commence operation in Q3 2024. Driven by its ambitious vision, Airex Energy plans to replicate similar projects annually until 2035 to achieve a remarkable target.

As the global drive for decarbonization intensifies, Airex Energy is at the forefront, delivering practical and transformative solutions that align with the ambitious goals set by industries worldwide. Its technology and expertise emerge as vital resources in the pursuit of a more sustainable and carbon-neutral future.