Responding to increased demand for gasoline while addressing climate change by reducing the environmental impact requires new and innovative solutions.
Rainforest Energy is an innovative startup that aims to produce clean gasoline and propane from waste biomass and natural gas in Western Canada.
“Rainforest Energy is leading the way in producing clean energy without environmental impact,” says Corporate Director and Executive Chair Peter Lafontaine.
Hasn’t this idea failed in the past?
Similar ideas have failed in the past due to poor design and immature technology. However, the proposed Rainforest Energy plants are more technically, economically and environmentally viable now because:
- The required processing technology has advanced and matured to produce a better product while decreasing its cost.
- The wholesale price of gasoline is higher.
- The price of natural gas is modest and likely to stay in this range.
- The disposal cost of waste biomass is increasing.
- The environmental impact of waste biomass disposal, often by burning, is no longer acceptable.
Haven’t similar ideas consumed massive subsidies from taxpayers?
Yes, ethanol production from agricultural waste has consumed massive subsidies from taxpayers.
Rainforest Energy will produce higher-value gasoline and no ethanol. Therefore, the proposed Rainforest Energy plants do not require subsidies. Also, the Rainforest Energy gasoline has a higher energy density than ethanol.
If this idea is so fantastic, why is nobody already doing it?
Other companies are producing gasoline, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using variations of the process technology the proposed Rainforest Energy plants will rely on. Example plants include:
“I’m excited to lead a team that is applying new but proven processing technology to produce clean gasoline for the Western Canadian market,” says Konstantin Starkov, COO and VP of Engineering & Construction.
Is there enough agricultural biomass waste?
Yes. There is more than enough agricultural biomass waste to meet the needs of multiple Rainforest Energy plants. In Alberta and Saskatchewan, much of the land is devoted to agriculture and forestry, producing significant biomass waste.
Natural gas is also abundant.
Are the Rainforest Energy products really clean energy?
We’ve all heard claims of clean energy for various industrial processes, only to discover later the claims were actually greenwashing. Clean means the energy production process:
- Emits no greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere.
- Does not damage the land or water courses.
- Contributes to avoiding GHG emissions elsewhere.
The Rainforest Energy production process meets this definition of clean energy by:
- Minimizing the production of CO2 as a byproduct.
- Sequestering the CO2 that is produced.
- Not damaging the land or water courses.
- Avoiding GHG emissions associated with burning agricultural biomass waste.
Do the Rainforest Energy plants provide employment?
Each Rainforest Energy plant will require approximately 40 permanent employees after construction.
Peter Lafontaine said, “We are pleased to offer First Nations communities the opportunity to invest and work in our proposed plants.”
How soon will a Rainforest Energy plant be built?
Like many promising startups, Rainforest Energy is working diligently to attract the next round of investors and finalize the details of its plant design.
Rainforest Energy is leading the way in improving the environment by planning to produce clean gasoline and propane in Western Canada.
About Yogi Schulz
Yogi Schulz is an information technology consultant who works extensively in the petroleum industry to select and implement administrative, operations, and geotechnical systems. He writes regular articles about developments in the energy industry and technology.
You can contact Yogi Schulz through his LinkedIn profile at this link.
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