LONDON, Ontario – Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) has awarded Comet Biorefining Inc. a grant of CA$10.9 million for the construction of its first-of-a-kind advanced bio-based chemicals plant. Located in Sarnia, Ontario, the plant will use proprietary conversion technology to transform corn stover, an agricultural residue, into high-purity dextrose sugar.

SDTC supports the development of technologies that address the challenges of clean air, soil, water and climate change. As a building block for bio-based solutions – replacements for petroleum-based products – Comet’s dextrose sugar will help reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions. 

Comet’s technology enables sugars to be produced cost competitively with corn- or sugarcane-derived dextrose, the conventional raw materials for today’s biochemical production. Comet’s facilities can be built on a small scale that enables flexibility to locate production close to biomass supplies, reducing transportation costs.

Andrew Richard, founder of Comet, said, “This funding will support the commercialization of our feedstock-flexible technology and produce a much-needed raw material for the growing bio-economy. By supporting Comet Biorefining, SDTC is investing in Canada’s environmental goals and economic future.”