The Airport City Sustainability Campus will be a launch point and demonstration hub for sustainable aviation fuels under a new agreement with an Alberta-based energy company.
Edmonton International Airport and SixRing, a subsidiary of Calgary-based Fluid Energy Group Ltd., have signed an agreement to utilize the SixRing process to produce one of the world’s cleanest drop-in aviation fuels, to explore possible collaboration to secure clean-hydrogen supplies as a key input, and to work together to scale SixRing technology to other airports and transportation hubs in Canada and globally. EIA will support SixRing by making introductions to airlines and industry partners.
“Edmonton International Airport is delighted to serve as a strategic development and commercialization partner for SixRing’s revolutionary biofuels production technology, which carries the potential to have a major impact in driving the sustainability of the world’s aviation industry," said Myron Keehn, vice president, air service, business development, ESG and government relations, EIA. "EIA has a proven track record in supporting transportation and manufacturing innovation that helps create jobs in Alberta and that can also benefit our wider Canadian and international partners and stakeholders.”
“SixRing is very pleased to establish this major strategic industry partnership with the Edmonton International Airport, which has such a compelling track record for innovation and sustainability," said Clay Purdy, CEO of Fluid Energy Group Ltd. and SixRing Inc. "We are confident that EIA strongly shares our vision for the “greening” of global aviation and will prove to be an impactful partner in commercializing our transformative technologies.”
SixRing has developed a suite of patented chemical formulas, methods, and low-energy processes to create biofuels, including Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and advanced materials from sustainable cellulose. SixRing’s biofuels unique proprietary low-energy biomass conversion process occurs at ambient temperatures and pressures.
SixRing utilizes low-cost readily available waste or industrial plant-based biomass, which translates to higher yields production and maximizes recovery rates. Compared to existing biofuel technologies, the SixRing process creates minimal emissions, does not compete with food production and is readily scalable through its relatively simple design that can be easily integrated with existing biomass industrial infrastructure. Additionally, the process utilizes green chemistry, recycling its process chemicals.
In 2021, EIA became the first airport in the world to sign The Climate Pledge, committing to being carbon neutral by 2040. As part of this world, EIA is working with multiple partners to reduce its emissions, help 2 showcase and test new technologies and is supporting the development of the Edmonton Hydrogen Hub.
