Thursday, June 5, 2025
Airex Energy, an innovative leader in the development of world-class decarbonization solutions, Groupe Rémabec, a cornerstone of Quebec’s forest industry committed to responsible transformation and decarbonization, and SUEZ, a global leader in circular solutions for water and waste, have inaugurated Carbonity—an industrial-scale biochar plant, located in Port-Cartier.
Born from a partnership between the three companies, the plant begins with an annual production capacity of 10,000 tonnes of biochar, which is expected to triple by 2026, making it the largest facility of its kind in North America—and one of the most important globally.
Biochar is recognized by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) as one of the most effective technologies to combat climate change due to its long-term carbon sequestration capacity. In addition, its many benefits enhance agricultural resilience, drive sustainable innovation in construction and urban development, and support the decarbonization of heavy industries.
Decarbonization tool for multiple industries
Biochar is produced through pyrolysis—a process of carbonizing residual biomass at high temperatures without oxygen.
When used as a soil amendment, biochar enhances nutrient and water retention, aeration, drainage, and microbial activity. It regenerates soil, increases fertilizer eficiency, improves crop yields, and aids water drainage—key advantages for the agriculture sector. It can also be added to livestock feed to promote animal health and reduce methane emissions. When integrated into concrete, cement, or asphalt, biochar enhances material performance while significantly lowering their carbon footprint—addressing a major challenge in sustainable construction and urban development.
Its production also yields surplus energy in the form of steam or pyrolytic oil, which can be used as fuel. Cities are increasingly using biochar to process organic waste and combat flooding. Its absorbent qualities make it ideal for creating “sponge parks.” It also supports the remediation of contaminated soils.
An innovative facility driven by pioneers in the energy transition
Carbonity, located in Northern Quebec, is an equally held joint venture between the three partner organizations. It will create 75 direct and indirect jobs in the region and produce carbon-rich biochar from approximately 58,000 tonnes of forestry residues annually, sourced from Groupe Rémabec’s operations.
“The inauguration of Carbonity is a true industrial milestone for Québec. Airex Energy’s technology, including our patented CarbonFX and DryFX solutions, is central to this success, and it makes us very proud,” said Michel Gagnon, CEO of Airex Energy and Chair of Carbonity’s Board. “Our primary mission is to contribute to the decarbonization of our economy. This investment represents Airex Energy’s first step toward scaling global biochar production, a product that will help many businesses here and abroad achieve net zero.”
Carbonity is powered by Airex Energy’s proprietary technology. Its proprietary and patented DryFX™ and CarbonFX™ technologies are at the heart of the plant’s innovative process. SUEZ brings key expertise in organic waste recovery, the production of amendments and biofertilizers, and the development of circular solutions to help clients reduce their carbon footprint. This project marks the first step in Airex Energy and SUEZ’s ambitious roadmap to build a global annual production capacity of 350,000 tonnes of biochar by 2035 to meet the decarbonization challenges of industrial operations.
“The federal government is proud to have contributed to this flagship project supporting the establishment of a new subsidiary in Canada, ” said Mélanie Joly, Minister of Industry and Minister of Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions. “Biochar is a key solution for carbon sequestration, with additional benefits for agriculture, the development of resilient cities, and the support of a diversified forestry industry.”
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Featured image credit: Airex Energy
