What Arbios Biotech does

Arbios Biotech is a Canadian renewable biofuels company that transforms underutilized biomass into high-quality renewable bio-oil intermediate using proprietary Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) technology licensed from Australian parent Licella Holdings Limited. The technology applies high-temperature, high-pressure water-based processing to convert low-value feedstocks (forestry residues, agricultural waste, discarded biomass) into a bio-crude intermediate suitable for upgrading into sustainable aviation fuel, marine fuel, and renewable fuels for hard-to-decarbonize sectors; the marketed product can deliver up to 80% lower greenhouse gas emissions versus fossil fuel equivalents. The flagship asset is the Chuntoh Ghuna facility in Prince George, British Columbia — described as the world's largest HTL facility — established in partnership with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation and positioned as a global demonstration case study intended to inspire replication across North America, Europe, and South America.

The company's product portfolio centers on a single core output (renewable bio-oil intermediate) and the underlying HTL process platform. Distribution is conducted through a direct B2B enterprise sales model targeting fuel producers, refiners, and SAF manufacturers; the company does not publicly disclose pricing or contractual terms. Go-to-market relies on technical content marketing via the company website, LinkedIn, YouTube, and earned media coverage (including Sky News features). Customer logos, offtake agreements, and revenue figures are not disclosed.

Arbios was acquired by Australian Licella Holdings Limited in August 2025, becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary and part of Licella's broader international HTL commercialization strategy. The company employs 11-50 staff based in British Columbia. Beyond the Licella relationship, the strategic Indigenous partnership with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation represents a distinctive element of Arbios's stakeholder and feedstock-access model. The firm is private, generates no publicly disclosed revenue, has no disclosed funding rounds as an independent entity (capitalization flows through Licella), and operates a single commercial-scale facility to date.

Name

Arbios Biotech

Legal name

Arbios Biotech

Website

https://arbiosbiotech.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Arbios Biotech uses proprietary Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) technology to convert underutilized biomass into renewable bio-oil intermediates, operating the world's largest HTL facility in Prince George, Canada, and serving aviation and marine fuel producers as a subsidiary of Licella Holdings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Renewable Biofuels

NAICS

Petroleum Refineries (324110), Cyclic Crude, Intermediate, and Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing (325194), Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing (3241)

SIC

Petroleum Refining (2911)

akta.pro primary industry

Biofuel Plant EPC, O&M & Process Technology Providers (EUAAAHAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biofuel Upgrading, Hydrotreating & Refining (Co-processing, Isomerization) (EUAAAHAG), Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Production (HEFA, FT, ATJ) (EUAAAHAE), Biofuels & Renewable Fuels Switching (Biomethane/RNG, Bio-oils, Sustainable Biomass) (EUABAJAD)

Keywords

• Renewable biofuels
• Biomass conversion
• Hydrothermal liquefaction
• Bio-oil production
• Sustainable aviation fuel

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Arbios Biotech operates Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) facilities to convert underutilized biomass and discarded feedstocks into high-quality renewable bio-oil intermediate. The bio-oil is sold to downstream producers of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and marine transport fuel as a low-carbon feedstock, enabling up to 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil fuels. Its flagship asset is the Chuntoh Ghuna facility in Prince George, British Columbia — the world's largest HTL facility.

Product overview

Arbios Biotech operates as a Licella company offering a portfolio centered on Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) technology for converting biomass into renewable biofuels. The core offering is the proprietary HTL process that transforms underutilized biomass into high-value renewable bio-oil, which serves as an intermediate for sustainable aviation and marine fuels. The company operates the Chuntoh Ghuna facility—the world's largest HTL facility—located in Prince George, Canada, developed in partnership with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation. This facility demonstrates how discarded biomass can become sustainable fuel solutions, with the bio-oil product capable of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to conventional fossil fuels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Renewable Bio-Oil High-quality renewable bio-oil intermediate produced via Hydrothermal Liquefaction (HTL) of underutilized biomass, sold to fuel producers, refiners and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) manufacturers. Designed for hard-to-decarbonize aviation and marine transport sectors, delivering up to 80% lower GHG emissions vs. fossil fuels.
• Chuntoh Ghuna HTL Facility The world's largest hydrothermal liquefaction facility, located in Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Established in partnership with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, it transforms under-utilized biomass into sustainable bio-oil solutions and is positioned as a scalable reference case for global HTL deployments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions when compared to fossil fuels

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lheidli T'enneh First NationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Chuntoh Ghuna facility was established in partnership with the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, exemplifying shared values in sustainable development. This Indigenous partnership represents a collaborative approach to renewable energy development in British Columbia, Canada.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Vertoro: Dutch start-up developing lignin-based bio-oil technology from biomass. Comparable as a technology company converting underutilized biomass into renewable bio-oil intermediates for downstream fuel markets.
• Prometheus Fuels: US-based producer of net-zero carbon fuels from atmospheric CO2 — focusing initially on SAF and gasoline. Comparable as a developer of low-carbon aviation and transportation fuels using proprietary conversion technology.
• Aemetis: Operates renewable diesel and ethanol facilities and is developing cellulosic ethanol and SAF capacity. Comparable as a producer of low-carbon fuels targeting California's LCFS and similar policy-driven markets.
• Sunfire: German power-to-liquids and synthetic fuel company producing e-fuels (e-SAF, e-diesel) from renewable hydrogen and captured CO2. Comparable as a next-generation low-carbon fuel producer targeting aviation and shipping.
• Gevo: US-based developer of alcohol-to-jet (ATJ) SAF and renewable isooctane. Comparable as a biofuel technology company with a focus on SAF and low-carbon fuel intermediates, though using a different conversion pathway.
• Velocys: Technology provider for Fischer-Tropsch conversion of biomass and waste to SAF and renewable diesel. Comparable as a biofuel process technology company targeting aviation fuels through a different conversion pathway.
• LanzaTech: Gas-fermentation technology company producing bioethanol and SAF precursors from industrial off-gases. Comparable as a next-generation biofuel platform targeting aviation and marine fuel markets with proprietary conversion technology.

Broad incumbents

• Neste: Global leader in renewable diesel (HVO/HEFA) and emerging SAF producer. Comparable because both produce renewable fuel intermediates sold into aviation and road transport markets, though Neste uses a more mature, at-scale pathway.
• World Energy: One of the largest SAF producers in North America, operating HEFA-based SAF production. Comparable as a downstream buyer/competitor for renewable feedstocks and as a SAF market participant serving aviation customers.

Direct peers

• Licella Holdings: Arbios's parent company and original developer of the proprietary Hydrothermal Liquefaction technology deployed at Chuntoh Ghuna. Operates the same HTL platform globally and is the most direct technology and strategic peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRJdkdxSl18ieLkf1CJ7yIA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/arbiosbiotech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Arbios Biotech