A concrete solution for soil regeneration and carbon sequestration by Suez

Airex Energy, an innovative leader in the development of world-class decarbonisation solutions, Groupe Rémabec, a pillar of the Quebec forestry industry committed to responsible transformation and decarbonisation, and SUEZ, a global leader in circular solutions for water and waste, inaugurated yesterday Carbonity, Canada's first industrial-scale biochar plant, in Port-Cartier. Resulting from a partnership between the three companies, the plant will start with a production capacity of 10,000 tonnes of biochar per year, which is expected to triple by the end of 2026 to become the largest in North America — and one of the largest in the world.

Thanks to its ability to sequester carbon over-time, biochar has been identified by the IPCC1 as an effective technology to address climate change. Also, its multiple benefits support agricultural resilience, sustainable innovation in the construction and urban planning sectors, and decarbonization of heavy industries.

Biochar, a decarbonization tool for multiple industries
Produced by high-temperature pyrolysis of biomass, without oxygen, biochar stabilises carbon in residual biomass sustainably and creates practical applications in agriculture, construction and the energy sector. Used as a soil amendment, it sequesters carbon while improving nutrient and water retention, aeration, drainage and microbial life. It helps soil regeneration, makes fertiliser use more efficient, increases agricultural yields and contributes to water conservation — major benefits for the agricultural sector.

When added to concrete, cement or asphalt, it improves the performance of materials while significantly reducing their carbon footprint, a crucial issue for the construction industry and cities of tomorrow. Its production also generates surplus energy in the form of steam or pyrolysis oil, which can be used on site or sold to nearby industries.

An innovative plant backed by three companies pioneering the ecological transition
Located on the North Shore, Carbonity is a joint venture owned equally by three partners. It will create 75 direct and indirect jobs in the region. It produces carbon-rich biochar from approximately 58,000 tonnes per year of forest residues from the activities of Groupe Rémabec.

Carbonity relies on Airex Energy know-how, which developed the technological solutions DryFX and CarbonFX™ used to produce biochar and on SUEZ's expertises in organic waste recovery, the production of soil improvers and biofertilisers, and the development of circular solutions to reduce its customers' carbon footprint.

This project marks the first step in the ambitious roadmap of Airex Energy and SUEZ, which aim to build a global annual biochar production capacity of 350,000 tonnes by 2035 to meet the challenge of industrial activities’ decarbonisation.

At full capacity, the plant will sequester 75,000 tonnes of CO2 eq. per year. This production generates guaranteed and certified carbon credits, which are sold on the voluntary market by First Climate. In 2024, Microsoft selected Carbonity to purchase 36,000 carbon credits over the first three years of operation.

www.suez.com