Canada’s first industrial-scale biochar plant, Carbonity, officially opened on May 22, 2025, in Port-Cartier, Québec.
The facility is a joint initiative by Airex Energy, Groupe Rémabec, and global environmental firm SUEZ.
With an initial capacity of 10,000 tonnes of biochar per year—set to triple by 2026—Carbonity is poised to become the largest biochar plant in North America. The carbon-rich material, produced from forestry residues using pyrolysis, is recognized by the IPCC as a key climate solution for long-term carbon sequestration.
Beyond capturing carbon, biochar offers broad benefits: it improves soil health in agriculture, strengthens concrete in construction, and aids flood control and soil remediation in cities.
The Port-Cartier facility will process 58,000 tonnes of forestry by-products annually from Groupe Rémabec and generate 75 jobs. It uses Airex Energy’s patented CarbonFX™ and DryFX™ technologies, with SUEZ contributing its expertise in circular economy solutions.
“This is a true industrial milestone for Québec,” said Michel Gagnon, CEO of Airex Energy. “Carbonity is just the beginning of our broader vision for global-scale biochar deployment.”
Carbonity forms part of an ambitious roadmap to scale global production to 350,000 tonnes of biochar annually by 2035. The project is backed by over $16 million in funding from the governments of Québec and Canada.
At full capacity, the plant will sequester 75,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent per year. The carbon credits generated will be sold on the voluntary market, with Microsoft already committed to purchasing credits over the first three years of operations.
With Carbonity, Port-Cartier positions itself as a leader in sustainable innovation—where climate action, forestry, and economic development converge.
For more information, you can visit the official websites of Airex Energy, SUEZ, and Groupe Rémabec.
From left to right: Patrick Girard, Michel G. Gagnon, IAS.A., ICD.D., Alain Thibault, Kateri Champagne Jourdain, Réjean Paré et Yves Rannou.
