What FORGE Hydrocarbons does

FORGE Hydrocarbons Corporation is a Canadian clean-energy company founded in 2012 as a spin-off from the University of Alberta, commercializing a patented Lipid-to-Hydrocarbons (LTH) thermal conversion technology developed by Dr. David Bressler. The LTH process transforms low-value waste fats, oils, and greases into hydrocarbon fuels that are chemically indistinguishable from petroleum-based fuels, completing the conversion in hours using only pressure and temperature and without requiring catalysts or hydrogen. This positions FORGE's output as a true drop-in fuel directly compatible with existing fuel infrastructure and engines, sidestepping the hydrogen and catalyst requirements that drive up costs for conventional renewable diesel producers.

The company's commercial product portfolio derives from a single LTH platform and currently comprises renewable diesel fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). FORGE operates a dual go-to-market model: licensing the LTH technology to third parties outside North America, while building, owning, and operating renewable fuels production facilities in North America either independently or through strategic partnerships. Its first commercial-scale facility is in Sombra, Ontario—a CAD$30 million investment backed by Shell Ventures and Valent Low-Carbon Technologies with stated production capacity of approximately 19 million liters per year. Disclosed unit economics are favorable: total production cost is estimated at less than $0.40 per gallon, feedstock (80% of cost of goods sold) is sourced from cheaper, lower-quality waste fats and oils yielding roughly 30% savings versus Soy and Corn oil, and a facility is projected to achieve a 4-year payback period.

FORGE serves three primary customer segments: oil and gas companies seeking drop-in renewable diesel to satisfy biofuels mandates, the aviation industry pursuing decarbonization through SAF, and government agencies supporting clean energy initiatives. Commercial validation comes from partnerships and investments by Shell Ventures, Valent Low-Carbon Technologies, Lockheed Martin (Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy), Edmonton International Airport, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, FedDev Ontario, Alberta Innovates Bio Solutions, and Natural Resources Canada. Cumulative disclosed funding exceeds CAD$50 million equivalent across grants, corporate venture, and government programs since 2015.

Name

FORGE Hydrocarbons

Legal name

FORGE Hydrocarbons Corporation

Website

https://forgehc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FORGE Hydrocarbons is a Canadian clean-energy company commercializing patented Lipid-to-Hydrocarbons technology that converts waste fats and oils into drop-in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel without catalysts or hydrogen, serving oil and gas, aviation, and government customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Fuels / Biofuel Technology

NAICS

Petroleum Refineries (32411)

SIC

Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Diesel (HVO/HEFA) Production (EUAAAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production (HEFA, FT, ATJ) (EUAAAHAE), Biofuel Upgrading, Hydrotreating & Refining (Co-processing, Isomerization) (EUAAAHAG)

Keywords

• Renewable diesel production
• Sustainable aviation fuel
• Lipid-to-hydrocarbons technology
• Drop-in biofuel manufacturing
• Waste fats conversion

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Technology Licensing: FORGE licenses its LTH technology to industry players in the Rest of the World (outside North America), generating licensing revenue from companies seeking to deploy the proprietary conversion technology.
2. Renewable Fuels Production and Sales: Building, owning, and operating renewable fuels facilities in North America either independently or through strategic partnerships, generating revenue from the production and sale of drop-in renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FORGE Hydrocarbons develops and commercializes a patented Lipid-to-Hydrocarbons (LTH) conversion technology that transforms low-value waste fats, oils, and greases into drop-in renewable diesel fuel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) without the use of catalysts or hydrogen. The company operates a commercial-scale biofuel production facility in Sombra, Ontario, and licenses its technology to international partners while producing and selling renewable fuels to oil and gas companies and aviation industry customers.

Product overview

FORGE Hydrocarbons offers a single unified technology platform—the patented Lipid-to-Hydrocarbons (LTH) technology—that converts waste fats, oils, and greases into drop-in hydrocarbon fuels. The core product is the LTH technology itself, which is available for licensing globally and through company-owned facilities in North America. The technology produces two main fuel outputs: Renewable Diesel Fuel (a drop-in replacement for petroleum diesel) and Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) developed through specialized research initiatives. The company licenses the technology to industry players outside North America while building, owning, and operating its own renewable fuels facilities in North America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lipid-to-Hydrocarbons (LTH) Technology

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% cost savings on feedstock compared to Soy and Corn oil
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Edmonton International Airport (YEG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2023Partnership to showcase the power of low-emission fuel. This collaboration builds on Mission Innovation and Alberta Biojet Initiative success and will result in construction of a Sustainable Aviation Fuels facility in Alberta. Represents shared commitment to sustainability and clean fuels future.
• C-SAF (Canadian Council for Sustainable Aviation Fuels)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2023FORGE is a founding member of C-SAF, supporting the launch of the Canadian SAF Roadmap. C-SAF provides policy framework, priority actions, and next steps to ensure Canadian aviation sector remains competitive in transition to net-zero future by 2050. Council was created by consortium of 60 airlines and key stakeholders including suppliers, aerospace manufacturers, airports, finance, and academia.
• TEC Edmonton and University of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFORGE is a University of Alberta spinoff company commercializing technology developed by Dr. David Bressler. TEC Edmonton provides incubation and business development support. The partnership represents a made-in-Alberta technology development journey from research to commercialization.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SkyNRG: Netherlands-based SAF specialist focused on business aviation and airline offtake. Direct peer in SAF supply, technology development, and policy advocacy for aviation decarbonization.
• Diamond Green Diesel: Joint venture between Darling Ingredients and Valero operating major renewable diesel plants across the US. Direct competitor in waste-lipid-to-renewable-diesel conversion, with comparable feedstock strategy and integrated fuel offtake via Valero.
• Neste: Finland-based world's largest producer of renewable diesel and SAF using HEFA technology. Direct competitor to FORGE in the renewable diesel/SAF market, with comparable drop-in fuel outputs but at vastly greater scale and with hydrogen-based processing.
• Gevo: US-based renewable fuels and SAF developer using an isobutanol-to-hydrocarbons pathway. Direct competitor in low-carbon drop-in fuels and SAF, with similar small-cap growth profile and publicly traded valuation benchmarks.
• World Energy: Boston-based pioneer in commercial-scale SAF production and distribution. Direct competitor in SAF supply, with established relationships to airlines and biofuel-blending infrastructure complementary to FORGE's drop-in approach.
• Aemetis: California-based renewable diesel and SAF producer with operating and planned plants in the US and India. Direct competitor pursuing renewable diesel and SAF from waste feedstocks, with comparable project-finance-driven scaling model.

Emerging players

• HIF Global: Chile-based e-fuels company (formerly incorporating Velocys FT technology) producing synthetic fuels from green hydrogen and captured CO2. Emerging peer in low-carbon drop-in fuels, with comparable project-development stage and SAF focus.
• LanzaTech: US-based carbon-to-fuels company using gas fermentation to produce ethanol that is upgraded to SAF. Adjacent emerging player with overlapping SAF end-market and similar tech-disruption narrative, but a fundamentally different feedstock-to-hydrocarbon pathway.

Broad incumbents

• Marathon Petroleum: Major US oil refiner actively expanding into renewable diesel and SAF through Martinez Renewables and Dickinson facility. Broad incumbent with overlapping renewable diesel product but vastly larger balance sheet, feedstock access, and downstream offtake.
• Valero: US refiner and 50% owner of Diamond Green Diesel, the largest US renewable diesel producer. Broad incumbent with direct exposure to FORGE's competitive set through its JV, and potential acquirer or licensor of LTH technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forge-hydrocarbons

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FORGE Hydrocarbons