In California, French firm Haffner Energy has signed its first U.S. contract for renewable fuels, supplying biomass gasification modules for a 100 tonne per day biomethanol plant led by local developer OroCarbo. The facility, slated for commissioning in early 2028, will convert orchard waste and forest residues into low carbon methanol, primarily for maritime use.
Haffner’s patented SYNOCA thermolysis system will generate syngas from residual biomass, feeding into Maverick Synfuels’ methanol synthesis technology. The contract’s initial phase centers on a carbon intensity study by third-party firm AmSpec, setting the baseline for future fuel certification under California’s low carbon regimes.
OroCarbo, founded during the 2020 wildfires, frames the project as both industrial solution and public health intervention. “We were breathing smoke through masks,” said founder Brian Wong. “Methanol came out as the clear winner.” The region’s biomass surplus, including woody debris from fire prevention and waste from fruit and nut orchards, offers a year-round feedstock stream.
The plant will use two 20 megawatt SYNOCA units and joins a growing set of renewable methanol projects targeting marine fuel markets. For Haffner, it is a foothold in the U.S. and a test case for scaling its modular platform. For California, it is a hedge against fire and fossil fuel alike.
More on the story
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
