AB-2025-06899 - ENGINEERING STUDY AND PILOT TESTING OF CO-PROCESSING WITH RENEWABLE CONTENT IN A REFINERY

The Government of Alberta is commissioning research work to understand how to advance sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) or low carbon jet fuel in the province. As a part of this initiative, the government will support an engineering study and a refinery pilot test to assess the production of SAF with low carbon content by co-processing renewable feedstock in petroleum refineries. Co-processing involves processing renewable feedstocks, such as vegetable oils, used cooking oils (UCO) and animal fat, with crude oil at the same time in an existing petroleum refinery. This process allows biogenic and non-biogenic feedstocks to be processed together, resulting in fuel with renewable content and lower carbon intensity. Refineries are equipped with fluid catalytic cracking, hydrotreating or hydrocracking units, which can process renewable feedstocks. Co-processing leverages existing refinery infrastructure, processes, and technologies and utilizes spare refinery capacities. It offers scalability and flexibility, allowing refineries to process renewable feedstocks with fossil crude in varying proportions to meet growing demand for low carbon jet fuel.