Expander Energy Selects Plug Power to Help Convert Forestry Waste into Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Canada

Posted on July 7th, 2026 | Filed under Press Releases

Companies sign MOU to integrate Plug’s GenEco™ electrolyzer technology into Expander’s proprietary BETL® process for the proposed Mackenzie Biofuel Project in British Columbia.

July 7, 2026 – TheNewswire – Expander Energy Inc. (“Expander”) is pleased to announce it has selected Plug Power Inc. (“Plug”) as its strategic electrolyzer technology partner for the proposed Mackenzie Biofuel Project, a first-of-its-kind clean fuels facility in British Columbia designed to convert forestry waste into sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), renewable diesel, and other low-carbon fuels.

The companies have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to integrate Plug’s GenEco™ PEM electrolyzer technology into Expander’s proprietary Biomass Electrolysis to Liquids (BETL®) process. The collaboration will support development of the hydrogen and oxygen production systems required for the project and advance engineering efforts toward commercial deployment.

Located in Mackenzie, British Columbia, the proposed facility aims to transform forestry wood waste into low-carbon transportation fuels, creating value from regional resources while supporting Canada’s decarbonization and energy security objectives. The project is first on many renewable fuel projects identified by Expander and Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) and supported by Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) through the Clean Fuels Fund program.

BETL® is an innovative fuel production process jointly developed by Expander and CNL that combines biomass conversion and electrolysis technologies to produce low-carbon bio-synthetic fuels. Because the carbon used in the process originates from biomass rather than fossil sources, the resulting fuels are expected to achieve significantly lower lifecycle carbon emissions than conventional petroleum-based alternatives.

If developed as planned, the Mackenzie Biofuel Project could convert approximately 84,000 dry tonnes of forestry biomass annually into up to 30 million litres of renewable fuels, including renewable diesel, renewable naphtha, bio-wax, and sustainable aviation fuel. The facility is expected to avoid up to 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually while helping address growing demand for cleaner transportation fuels.

Expander is also evaluating opportunities to expand production capacity over time. A larger-scale buildout at Mackenzie BC could process up to 336,000 dry tonnes of biomass annually, producing as much as 120 million litres of renewable fuels and avoiding up to 360,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Growing demand for sustainable aviation fuel presents a significant market opportunity for the project. Expander is currently working with strategic aviation industry partners to evaluate demand for an initial 18 million litres of SAF annually, with future expansion potential of up to 72 million litres per year.

The collaboration combines Expander’s proprietary BETL® technology with Plug’s proven electrolyzer platform to advance a scalable pathway for producing low-carbon fuels from Canada’s abundant forestry resources and further strengthen the country’s emerging clean fuels industry.

About Expander Energy Inc.

Expander Energy Inc. is a Calgary, Alberta-based energy technology company that has developed a patented suite of transportation fuel production technologies to convert biomass, captured carbon and low Carbon Intensity electricity into “fossil free” low life cycle carbon intensity synthetic diesel fuel (Bio-SynDiesel®), synthetic kerosene jet fuel (Bio-SynJet®) and green prime power generation. Expander’s Bio-Energy Carbon Capture and Sequestration (BECCS) solution utilizes cellulosic biomass to produce next generation low CI synthetic fuels while efficiently capturing bio-carbon for geologic sequestration. Bio-SynDiesel®, Bio-SynJet®, BGTL®, EBTL®, BETL®, and CETL™ are trademarks of Expander Energy Inc.

Forward Looking Information

This press release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information generally refers to information about an issuer’s business, capital, or operations that is prospective in nature, and includes future-oriented financial information about the issuer’s prospective financial performance or financial position.

The forward-looking information in this press release relates to Expander plans to build and operate Biomass to Liquids facilities.

Expander has made certain material assumptions to develop the forward-looking information in this news release, including assumptions about the availability of financing to build Biomass to Liquids facilities and the demand for renewable paraffinic synthetic diesel, jet and naphtha. By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to various significant risks and uncertainties, which could cause the actual results and expectations to differ materially from the anticipated results or expectations expressed in this news release.

Expander assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking information in this press release unless it is required to do so under Canadian securities legislation.

Contact Information

Expander Energy Inc.

Gord N. Crawford, P.Eng. – President and CEO

1185 – 10201 Southport Road SW Calgary Alberta T2W 4X9

[email protected]

cell: 780-966-4673