Reduced GHG emissions projected at planned Northstar asphalt shingle reprocessing facility

Vancouver-based Northstar Clean Technologies Inc. has announced the results of a second independent carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) life cycle assessment. The LCA, completed by Burgess Environmental Ltd. and based on modeling from the front-end engineering design (FEED) completed by BBA Inc., assessed the impacts and benefits of reprocessing asphalt shingles at Northstar’s Calgary Empower Facility. These findings were compared with the impacts and benefits related to the disposal of discarded or defective asphalt shingles in landfills and virgin production of asphalt shingles.

The assessment, Northstar says, found that the Calgary Empower Facility will have lower CO2e emissions than landfilling and virgin production.

According to Northstar, the facility would produce 77 kilograms of CO2e emissions per metric ton of feedstock. Virgin production and landfill disposal, on the other hand, was found to produce a combined total of 195 kilograms of CO2e emissions per metric ton of feedstock. The company says net savings come to a total of 117 kilograms of CO2e emissions per metric ton of feedstock or about 60 percent in savings.

Net estimated CO2e emissions savings are expected to be in the range of 3,500 metric tons to 4,700 metric tons of CO2e emissions per year depending on production volume.

In addition, each metric ton of feedstock processed is expected to reduce water consumption in the range of 18,000 cubic meters to 24,000 cubic meters per year and avoid land disturbance in the range of 13,800 square meters to 18,400.46 square meters per year.

“The completion of the LCA is another step toward the development of our Calgary Empower Facility and builds on the momentum of the completion of the FEED design and awarding of non-dilutive grant funding from Alberta Innovates. This analysis quantifies how our operations in Alberta can support our customers and industry partners in delivering circular and ‘green’ renewable asphalt produced with significantly lower carbon intensity,” says Aidan Mills, president, CEO and director of Northstar.

Northstar says future revenue and margins from carbon credits could potentially arise from CO2e emissions benefits depending on the regulatory and legislative framework.

Construction on the Calgary Empower Facility is slated to begin in the second half of 2022 with operations beginning in the first half of 2023 according to Northstar’s website.