The MoU formalizes the intent of Calgary and Steeper Energy to see the development of a demonstration plant at the Pine Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in southeast Calgary. The city has agreed to host Steeper Energy at its state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant, as well as to supply a small portion of Calgary’s primary and secondary sewage sludge to produce advanced biofuels, such as renewable diesel or jet fuel, via Steeper’s proprietary Hydrofaction® technology.
City of Calgary, Councillor Ward Sutherland, said, “This innovative venture highlights how the City of Calgary is partnering with business to lower costs, help the environment, and jumpstart diversification of our economy.”
The proposed project will be a collaborative effort towards sustainable practices, the elimination of contaminants contained in sewage sludge, such as spent pharmaceuticals and microplastics, as well as advancing clean-tech in Calgary. Upon concluding final arrangements with The City and the approval from Steeper’s board of directors, the project could break ground in early 2021.
The city and Steeper Energy have the shared objective of serving the public interest through:
Currently, development is ongoing at Steeper’s pilot plant in Denmark. The new plant will be North America’s first demonstration of Steeper’s proven Hydrofaction technology – a patented thermo-chemical process that converts bio-organic wastes (including sewage sludge, food, or forestry wastes) into renewable biofuels. In addition to biofuel production, the process converts and eliminates wastewater contaminants such as microplastics and pharmaceuticals and isolates heavy metals. Hydrofaction allows for the capture of beneficial nutrients from sewage such as phosphorus and nitrogen, which can later be made available as fertilizer for farmers who currently accept the city’s post-treatment biosolid sources.
Perry Toms, CEO of Steeper Energy, said, “The Calgary Urban-Waste Demonstration Project at Pine Creek represents the next phase of Steeper’s commercialization of Hydrofaction and will open exciting new market opportunities for Steeper globally. The transformation of sewage sludge and other urban generated biomass wastes to sustainable transport fuels delivers multiple environmental and social benefits and takes advantage of Calgary’s reputation as a global energy innovator.”
