San Antonio – September 29, 2026 -- Alder Renewables has completed 1,000 hours of continuous operation at its integrated industrial pilot, producing on-spec Alder Renewable Crude (ARC) from commercially sourced woody biomass pyrolysis oil. The sustained run validates the company's low-temperature conversion process and generates operating data now feeding into equipment design for its first full-scale commercial project.
Pilot data will size larger commercial units
The 1,000-hour campaign confirmed Alder's integrated process can hold continuous operation while repeatedly meeting product specifications. Alder is applying the results to refine process controls, operating parameters and equipment design for scale-up engineering.
United Airlines and Avfuel back roughly 2.5 billion gallons of offtake
Alder's commercialization push rests on long-term sustainable aviation fuel offtake agreements totaling approximately 2.5 billion gallons with United Airlines and Avfuel. Boeing and the U.S. Department of Energy provide additional strategic and non-dilutive support, while AE Bioénergie Côte-Nord -- operator of North America's largest woody biomass pyrolysis plant -- supplies feedstock and technical collaboration.
ARC-Bio joint venture targets forestry regions with existing infrastructure
Through ARC-Bio, a Boeing-supported joint venture with AE Bioénergie Côte-Nord, Alder is building commercial capacity spanning forestry supply, pyrolysis, ARC production and downstream refining. The venture is evaluating sites in forestry regions with abundant residual biomass and existing industrial infrastructure to shorten deployment timelines.
Company moves to customer qualification and demonstration-scale unit
Derek Vardon, CEO of Alder Renewables, said the company is advancing to customer qualification, scale-up engineering and commercial project development following the sustained pilot run. Alder has completed initial engineering for its modular commercial unit and plans a market demonstration unit to produce larger ARC volumes for customer qualification, generate further operating data, and support investment decisions. The company is also pursuing federal and strategic funding to support demonstration and commercial deployment.