An Irish energy company, Simply Blue Group, is planning to build a biofuel plant in eastern Nova Scotia that will produce sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) using approximately 700,000 tonnes of wood biomass annually. The project, set to be located in Goldboro, about 165 kilometres northeast of Halifax, is expected to begin construction in 2026 and become operational by 2029.
Simply Blue Group has secured 305 hectares of land for the facility, including 108 hectares previously owned by Calgary-based Pieridae Energy, which had originally planned a $10-billion liquified natural gas (LNG) export terminal at the site. That LNG project, proposed in 2012, was eventually shelved in 2021.
Headquartered in Cork, Ireland, Simply Blue Group focuses on renewable energy and claims its SAF will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 90% compared to conventional jet fuel, while performing at a comparable level. The project will source wood biomass through Wagner Forest NS Ltd., utilizing residues from the wood processing industry and material left over from forest management. This feedstock will allow the plant to produce 150,000 tonnes of aviation fuel annually.
The company also plans to incorporate wind and solar power into its energy mix, further enhancing the sustainability of the plant.
Nova Scotia’s Natural Resources Minister, Tory Rushton, welcomed the initiative, highlighting its potential to provide new opportunities for the province’s forestry sector, especially in utilizing low-grade wood fibre. “We know many landowners have an abundance of low-grade wood fibre … so this is another renewable energy project coming to Nova Scotia,” Rushton said. He noted that while the project has not requested provincial funding, it will still need to pass environmental and safety reviews.
The economic potential of the project is significant, but it has also raised concerns among environmentalists. Raymond Plourde, wilderness co-ordinator at the Ecology Action Centre, expressed apprehension about the scale of biomass usage, noting that 700,000 tonnes of biomass annually could have considerable environmental impacts. He warned that large-scale biomass harvesting and burning could lead to increased carbon emissions and degraded forest ecosystems, stating, “This is not a climate solution.”
Despite these concerns, the plant promises to generate economic benefits for Nova Scotia while contributing to the aviation industry’s push for greener fuels.