Ensyn

What Ensyn does

Ensyn is a privately-held renewable fuels and chemicals technology company founded in 1984 by Dr. Robert Graham and headquartered in Ottawa, Canada, with a registered office in Wilmington, Delaware. The company commercializes a patented Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) platform that converts non-food cellulosic biomass — primarily wood and agricultural residues — into high yields (70-75 wt% from dried wood) of liquid biocrude through rapid contact with hot flowing sand in under two seconds, without catalysts, hydrogen, or high pressure. Ensyn markets this biocrude as RFO (Renewable Fuel Oil) in the United States and LCFO (Low Carbon Fuel Oil) in Canada for commercial and industrial heating applications, and as a refinery feedstock for co-processing in Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) units to produce renewable gasoline and diesel.

The company monetizes its technology across four revenue streams: direct biocrude sales through its wholly-owned Ensyn Fuels Inc. (US) and Vyterra Renewables Inc. (Canada) subsidiaries under multi-year supply contracts with institutional and industrial clients; sale of D7 cellulosic Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) generated under the US EPA RFS program; licensing of RTP technology, engineering services, and equipment supply through the Envergent Technologies joint venture with Honeywell UOP; and operations and maintenance services to licensee facilities including Kerry Group's six commercial RTP plants. Customers span hospitals, universities, district heating systems, sawmills, steel manufacturers, and petroleum refineries, with named relationships including ArcelorMittal, Youngstown Thermal, Memorial Hospital, and Michelin.

Ensyn operates a 3 million gallon/year company-owned facility in Renfrew, Ontario, supports a 10.5 million gallon/year licensed facility in Port-Cartier, Quebec under a long-term ArcelorMittal offtake, and is developing a 20 million gallon/year facility in Millinocket, Maine and a 40 million litre/year facility in Enfield, Nova Scotia. The company holds 41 granted US patents plus 5 pending and 163 granted international patents plus 44 pending, and has secured EPA Part 79 and Part 80 approvals and California Air Resources Board LCFS pathway certification for refinery co-processing, with verified 70-90% lifecycle GHG reduction versus fossil fuels. Strategic shareholders include Chevron Technology Ventures, NEXT Investors, Impax Asset Management, InvestEco Capital, and Roseburg Renewable Energy; in 2025 Suzano acquired Ensyn's interest in their Brazilian joint venture.

Name

Ensyn

Legal name

Ensyn Corporation / Ensyn Technologies Inc.

Website

https://ensyn.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ensyn commercializes patented Rapid Thermal Processing technology that converts non-food cellulosic biomass into biocrude, sold as RFO/LCFO heating fuel or as refinery feedstock for renewable gasoline and diesel co-processing to institutional, industrial, and refining customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Biofuels

NAICS

Petroleum Refineries (324110), Fats and Oils Refining and Blending (311225)

SIC

Petroleum Refining (2911), Fats & Oils (2070)

akta.pro primary industry

Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biofuel Upgrading, Hydrotreating & Refining (Co-processing, Isomerization) (EUAAAHAG), Biofuel Plant EPC, O&M & Process Technology Providers (EUAAAHAK), RNG Offtake, Marketing & Environmental Attributes (RINs/LCFS/Guarantees of Origin) (EUAAAEAG)

Keywords

• Renewable fuel oil
• Biocrude production
• Thermal biomass conversion
• Refinery co-processing
• Cellulosic biofuels

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Biocrude/RFO/LCFO Sales: Sale of biocrude (marketed as RFO in US, LCFO in Canada) as renewable heating fuel to commercial and industrial clients including hospitals, district heating operators, and industrial facilities. Also sale to refineries for co-processing. Revenue from long-term supply contracts.
2. Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs): Sale of D7 cellulosic RINs generated under the US EPA Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program through sale of biocrude for heating purposes. Leading generator of cellulosic credits under RFS program.
3. Technology Licensing and Engineering Services: Licensing of RTP technology and engineering services through alliance with Honeywell UOP (Envergent Technologies). Supply of RTP equipment to production project developers.
4. Operations and Maintenance Services: Oversight, maintenance and technical support services for RTP operations at licensee facilities (Kerry Group). Fees for supervision and operational services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ensyn produces and sells biocrude, a renewable liquid fuel manufactured from non-food cellulosic biomass (wood residues and agricultural residues) using its proprietary RTP (Rapid Thermal Processing) thermal conversion technology. The biocrude is marketed as RFO (Renewable Fuel Oil) in the US and LCFO (Low Carbon Fuel Oil) in Canada for commercial and industrial heating applications, and as a co-processing feedstock for petroleum refineries to produce renewable gasoline and diesel. Ensyn also produces renewable chemicals and food ingredients, and licenses its RTP technology and equipment through the Envergent Technologies joint venture with Honeywell UOP.

Product overview

Ensyn is a renewable fuels and chemicals technology company offering a portfolio of products centered on its proprietary RTP (Rapid Thermal Processing) thermal conversion technology. The core offering is biocrude/RFO (Renewable Fuel Oil), marketed as RFO in the US and Low Carbon Fuel Oil (LCFO) in Canada, which serves as both a renewable heating fuel and a refinery feedstock for co-processing into renewable gasoline and diesel. Additional products include renewable chemicals and food ingredients produced through the RTP process. Ensyn operates through wholly-owned distribution subsidiaries (Ensyn Fuels Inc. for US, Vyterra Renewables Inc. for Canada) and a joint venture with Honeywell UOP (Envergent Technologies) for technology licensing and equipment supply. The company also has regional licensing partnerships and production development projects across North America and Brazil.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• RFO / LCFO Renewable Heating Fuel Ensyn's primary renewable liquid heating fuel (biocrude) produced from non-food cellulosic biomass through its RTP thermal conversion technology, marketed as RFO (Renewable Fuel Oil) in the US and LCFO (Low Carbon Fuel Oil) in Canada. Sold under multi-year supply contracts to commercial and institutional clients (hospitals, universities, district heating operators, industrial facilities) for heating and cooling applications, displacing petroleum fuels.
• Biocrude Refinery Feedstock (FCC Co-processing) Low-carbon biocrude sold as a renewable feedstock for petroleum refineries for co-processing in Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) units alongside traditional fossil feedstocks (VGO). At usage rates up to approximately 5%, biocrude performs comparably to VGO to produce ASTM specification renewable gasoline and diesel, leveraging existing refinery infrastructure without segregated handling requirements.
• Renewable Chemicals / Food Ingredients More than 30 different food ingredients and specialty chemicals produced from Ensyn's RTP liquids. Commercial production began in 1989 through the partnership with Red Arrow Products (now owned by Kerry Group, which operates six commercial RTP plants for food ingredients production). RTP liquids are also used for industrial specialty chemicals.
• RTP Technology Licensing and Engineering Services (Envergent Technologies) Licensing of Ensyn's patented RTP technology and engineering services delivered through the Envergent Technologies joint venture with Honeywell UOP, including supply of RTP equipment to biocrude production project developers globally, with performance guarantees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70-90% GHG emission reduction when using biocrude compared to conventional fossil fuels on lifecycle basis (verified by California Air Resources Board)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and strategic.

• Castlerock Green Energy LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024Joint venture partner with Khasma Capital for development of production in US (excluding Canada). Castlerock Biofuels LLC developing Maine Project - 20 million gallon/year biocrude facility in Millinocket, Maine.
• LindestrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Evaluating commercial production of green hydrogen, cellulosic ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and other renewable products from cellulosic biomass using Ensyn's RTP technology.
• LanzaTechstrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2023Alliance formed in October 2023 to develop renewable fuels and chemicals production using Ensyn's technology.
• Suzano S.A. (formerly Fibria Celulose S.A.)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing Partner · 1 January 2012Brazil's leading wood products company and largest pulp manufacturer. Holds exclusive rights to apply RTP process in Brazil for energy products and chemicals. Suzano acquired Ensyn's interest in the joint venture in 2025. Subject to certain third-party rights.
• Honeywell UOPcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2008Broad technology alliance including RTP equipment licensing and supply through Envergent Technologies (joint venture), and commercialization of Refinery Co-processing. Honeywell UOP carries out RTP design and engineering for biocrude production projects and assists Ensyn in interfacing with refiners.
• Ledwidge LumberstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerNova Scotia sawmill - strategic partner and primary feedstock provider for Vyterra's Nova Scotia Project in Enfield. One of Nova Scotia's largest sawmills.
• Arbec Forest Products Inc.strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeading privately-held forest products company operating in Eastern Canada with twelve wood processing plants. Partner in Côte-Nord project and has rights to build two additional RTP plants in Canada.
• Groupe RémabecstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor forest products company in Quebec focused on timber harvesting and wood processing. Partner in Côte-Nord project. Harvests over 3 million cubic metres of lumber yearly and operates ten wood processing plants.
• Kerry Group PLCcoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerGlobal taste and nutrition company that acquired Red Arrow Products in 2015. Owns and operates six commercial RTP plants (five in Wisconsin, one in Ontario) for food ingredients production. Ensyn provides operations and maintenance services.
• ShellstrategicTechnology or IntegrationDeveloped and supplies FCC co-processing nozzle capable of feeding Ensyn's biocrude into commercial FCC units. Used in commercial co-processing demonstrations.
• PetrobrasstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompleted key co-processing demonstration in Brazil under three-way collaborative agreement with Ensyn and NREL at 200 kg/hr FCC facility in Sao Mateus do Sul.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Neste: Global leader in renewable diesel and SAF from waste and residues. Directly comparable to Ensyn in targeting renewable fuel mandates and refinery-grade outputs, but operates at vastly larger scale using HEFA rather than pyrolysis pathways.
• Fortum: Major Nordic energy company with significant renewable fuels and circular economy operations. Comparable in targeting bio-based heating fuels and refinery co-processing in European markets.

Direct peers

• UPM Biofuels: Finnish forestry company producing renewable diesel and naphtha from crude tall oil and wood-based residues. Direct competitor in wood-based biofuels and shares Ensyn's cellulose-to-fuels strategy.
• BTG BioLiquids (BTG-BTL): Dutch company commercializing fast pyrolysis of biomass to bio-oil for fuel and chemical applications. Most direct technology peer to Ensyn's RTP process and similarly focused on biomass-to-biocrude pathways.

Emerging players

• SunFire: German e-fuels company producing renewable diesel, SAF, and e-kerosene via power-to-liquid pathways. Competes for refinery offtake and is part of Linde alliance overlapping with Ensyn's development partnerships.
• Velocys: Developer of Fischer-Tropsch technology for converting biomass and waste to renewable jet fuel and diesel. Comparable in targeting small-scale biomass-to-liquid plants and refinery co-processing economics.
• LanzaTech: Gas-fermentation company producing ethanol and SAF from industrial off-gases. Has an explicit strategic alliance with Ensyn (since October 2023) for renewable fuels and chemicals, making it both a partner and adjacent competitor.
• Gevo: Developer of low-carbon intensity renewable gasoline and SAF from agricultural residues using alcohol-to-jet pathways. Competes with Ensyn in the renewable gasoline/SAF market and similar low-CI strategy.

Regional players

• Preem: Sweden's largest fuel company operating refineries that have piloted co-processing of renewable feedstocks. Direct comparable in refinery co-processing demonstrations and Nordic biofuel markets.

Others

• Honeywell UOP: Global process technology licensor and Ensyn's strategic partner in Envergent Technologies. Comparable in the biofuel EPC, licensing, and refinery process technology space, and a critical channel for Ensyn's growth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ensyn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ensyn

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors5 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 Ensyn