Energy Innovation
Powerhouse

Atlantic Canada’s first renewable diesel refinery fuels the world’s future

How a shared commitment to energy innovation transformed Come By Chance, Newfoundland and Labrador

On a spring day in April 2024, the sounds of enthusiastic applause and celebratory voices filled the on-site fire hall of the 50-year-old Come By Chance refinery, where employees, officials from all levels of government, and numerous other partners were gathered to mark the beginning of a new era for Atlantic Canada’s first operational renewable fuel production site.

Earlier that year, the refinery, owned and operated by Braya Renewable Fuels and located in Come By Chance, Newfoundland and Labrador, had successfully commenced refinery operations after the facility was converted from a traditional petroleum refinery into a renewable fuel production site. The converted refinery has the capacity to produce 18,000 barrels of renewable diesel per day, with future plans to expand production capacity, add sustainable aviation fuel production capabilities, and explore green hydrogen production.

Fuelling the future

Braya Renewable Fuels’ on-site production of renewable diesel, sustainable aviation fuel, and green hydrogen offers proven alternatives to fossil fuel use in aviation, heavy industry, and heavy-duty and consumer transportation.

These renewable fuels will significantly decrease the carbon emissions of these sectors, ensuring their sustainability in a lower-carbon future.

“We’re proud to advance the energy transition, offering renewable solutions to propel hard-to abate but essential industries into the future.”
- Todd O’Malley, CEO, Braya Renewable Fuels.

“Our product helps to literally fuel a low-carbon economy. We all have a role to play in the energy transition and the products Braya offers are instrumental to progress down the path to a net zero future”, says Mr. O’Malley.

Braya Renewable Fuels specializes in the production of second-generation biofuels, which are chemically identical to the petroleum products they replace but with a much lower carbon footprint. By processing readily available feedstocks, including soybean oil and distiller’s corn oil, Braya produces renewable fuel that reduces overall carbon emissions by more than 50 per cent when compared to petroleum diesel. Unlike first-generation biofuels, second generation biofuels do not require blending with petroleum-based fuels to power the engines and infrastructure of the future.

Committed to global excellence

Braya Renewable Fuels’ refinery is a world-class facility and one of the largest independently owned renewable fuel producers in the world. It is also the first facility of its kind in Atlantic Canada, although it’s certain that it will inspire many more energy innovators to follow in its footsteps.

The refinery’s renewable fuels have far-reaching impacts and a capacity to significantly advance the global energy transition. Being strategically located on the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador enables Braya to source low-carbon feedstocks from anywhere in the world and deliver sustainable fuels to markets in North America and Europe. The site’s original tankage has been repurposed to store feedstock and products, and the on-site dock facilitates both the import of feedstocks and export of all renewable products by ship.

“There’s so much opportunity built right into our location in Come By Chance,” says Mr. O’Malley. “We’re connected to international markets by virtue of being right on the Atlantic Ocean. That positioning enables us to import and export low-carbon products from North America and Europe, but it’s also symbolic of the fact that we’re part of this bigger global movement that is the green energy transition.”

A shared celebration of a renewable legacy

Before it was converted into a renewable fuel production site, the Come By Chance facility had operated as a traditional petroleum refinery for half a century. After being idle for more than a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, new buyers launched an ambitious conversion project, drawing on the community’s expertise in the energy sector and the refinery’s rich history.

“The success of the conversions, and now of commercial operations, is truly a testament to the strong community partnerships that are possible in Atlantic Canada.”
- Todd O’Malley, CEO, Braya Renewable Fuels.

“From the incredibly skilled and dedicated workforce to the support we received from various levels of government, the community investment in Braya has been a key strategic advantage”, says Mr. O’Malley.

During the conversion itself, there were more than 800 workers at the site. Commercial operations now provide more than 200 sustainable jobs that add to the prosperity of the region. The federal government has invested $86 million into the project from the Innovation and Clean Fuels Fund and the provincial government has provided important regulatory and political support, having approved the sale and conversion of the world-class renewable fuel facility in rapid time. All of this support has turned the transformation of the Come By Chance refinery into a global success story in energy innovation, and the community is just as invested into making the next 50 years of the site a success.

“Through a commitment to safety, environmental responsibility, and operational excellence that we share with local residents and workers, businesses, and governments, we’ve been able to adapt the refinery to meet the evolving needs of the industry. Together we are paving the way to a greener, more sustainable future for Canada and the world,” reflects Mr. O’Malley.

Charged up for the energy transition

The Nova Scotia-born, leading battery materials and technology innovator

Many of the world’s leading materials producers, cell manufacturers, and OEMs all have one thing in common: NOVONIX, a Nova Scotia-based company delivering high-performance materials and technology solutions across the global lithium-ion battery supply chain.

Born in the award-winning research labs of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, NOVONIX has gone on to set themselves apart as key facilitators and leaders in the energy transition. Curious, collaborative, and committed, NOVONIX’s innovative spirit embodies the potential of Atlantic Canada’s sustainable energy sector.

In support of establishing a domestic battery supply chain, NOVONIX has three distinct business units, two of which specialize in the manufacturing of essential battery components, anode and cathode, and another that provides battery technology solutions.

A Nova Scotia origin story

Dalhousie University and Dr. Jeff Dahn’s Research Group labs have a global reputation as hubs for innovative discoveries, and NOVONIX has played an integral part building and upholding that reputation.

The systems and technique that underpin NOVONIX’s battery testing business were developed in Halifax, where the company still has operations today. Dr. Chris Burns, CEO of NOVONIX, was a graduate student at Dalhousie University where he was studying ways to more efficiently test the lifespan of lithium-ion batteries, the rechargeable batteries used in a wide range of modern electronics and EVs.

At the time, testing capabilities for the lifespan of those batteries averaged months or years, lacking both efficiency and precision. It was from this need for an innovative testing solution that Dr. Burns’ ultra-high precision coulometry testing equipment was born and continues to support the services and technology that NOVONIX offers to global clients across the battery supply chain.

NOVONIX remains deeply connected to the university community where the development of its technologies first started. Dr. Jeff Dahn, Dr. Burns’ graduate supervisor, has been a Chief Scientific Advisor to NOVONIX since 2021, and the company also sponsors the research of Dr. Mark Obrovac, another professor at Dalhousie University.

“Working closely with Dalhousie has been a huge benefit for us”, says Burns. “Nova Scotia has had a lot of success, especially within more emerging clean tech sectors like the battery space, developing strong talent pipelines through those kinds of programs and we’ve benefited from that.”

Revolutionizing batteries, from process to cost

Since those early days, NOVONIX has continued to capitalize on the Atlantic Canadian advantage, where the drive to provide the world with efficient and sustainable energy is strong. “Over the past few years, we’ve been able to more than double our growth in Nova Scotia with regards to revenue and headcount”, remarks Burns. “We’ve opened a one-of-a-kind R&D facility in Dartmouth aimed at creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way of developing cathode powder for the supply chain. And our Bedford location has increased its footprint and capabilities for cell assembly and testing substantially over the past three years.”

Today NOVONIX employs approximately 100 people in Nova Scotia, with an additional two locations in the United States focused on the company’s synthetic graphite business.

At its core, NOVONIX’s vision remains the same as when Dr. Burns was first developing his groundbreaking battery testing equipment: to provide revolutionary clean energy solutions to the battery industry.

Always innovating and growing

With several years of success under their belt, NOVONIX has no intention of stopping in their tracks. Knowing that EV technologies and adoption are constantly progressing, the NOVONIX teams know they need to stay on the cutting-edge of energy innovation. Their ability to seize on the opportunities of the Atlantic Canada advantage have kept NOVONIX globally competitive in this fast-moving sector.

Like other energy innovators, NOVONIX has benefitted from open lines of communication to provincial and federal government, both of which are committed to support the sector’s continued development. That support includes payroll and innovation rebates that have boosted NOVONIX’s capacity to push the boundaries of lithium-ion battery technology and materials.

Add to that the rich business and academic community and availability of trained and experienced talent from Halifax’s local universities and other communities connected to energy innovation, and NOVONIX has found the ideal conditions for growth in Atlantic Canada.

Those different levels of support have enabled NOVONIX to thrive by anticipating and responding to changing needs. For example, shifting production expectations for cathode materials pushed NOVONIX to develop an all-dry, zero-waste synthesis process for this essential material. With federal support for the initiative, NOVONIX is growing the scientific and engineering team specializing in this process, which will support commercialization with potential customers and partners.

“The fact that we’ve been able to achieve the kind of success we have really is an incredible testament to the kind of robust business ecosystem that Atlantic Canada offers”, concludes Burns.