Grant: CCI Applied Research and Development Grants

The fossil fuel and petrochemical sector has played a integral role in reshaping the modern world, becoming a dependent resource for everyday practices. Despite this, the production of fossil fuels is finite, a major environmental pollutant and have been deemed globally unsustainable in the long run. Nonetheless, the international petrochemical market is experiencing exponential growth and is projected to continue growing over the next 30 years. With the rise of electric vehicles, the demand for gasoline is expected to fall however the demand for diesel and jet fuel is expected to persist well into the future. With the need for alternative fuel sources, Suncor Energy, a leading player in the refining of oil sands, is focused on tackling the need for renewable diesel for various global industries. With a focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship the renewable diesel and jet fuel market is sizeable, however slim profit margins pose a significant challenge from their production. This project aims to develop a novel manufacturing process for up-cycling waste cooking oil (WCO) into multiple green products that replace existing petrochemical-derived products. Suncor has been working extensively on this technology and foresees success in developing a process for the creation of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel from bio-based oils utilizing Suncor’s existing processes. Suncor have partnered with Lambton College (LC) to both develop new products and production processes for market as well as integrating the processes into its current production processes. LC will work on the optimization of the renewable process production and will assist in any necessary modification for the renewable diesel production. Suncor’s approach to optimizing the production of renewable diesel lies in optimizing WCO to Suncor’s fixed Hydro-deoxygenation process. The result of this project presents a strategic opportunity that aligns with both environmental sustainability and business growth objectives for both Suncor and Canada. The Suncor Sarnia refinery, with its daily workforce of 500 individuals, is devoted to ensuring job security amidst carbon emission reduction initiatives through the commercialization of such products. Considering Canada’s daily consumption of over 500,000 barrels of diesel valued at an estimated CA$128m per day depicts a vast market potential for renewable diesel while making strides to achieve Canada's GHG reduction commitments.