French Biomass Tech Lands in Canada With Bold €4.2M Play

A French clean energy company just made its biggest move yet into North America. Haffner Energy, a pioneer in biomass-to-hydrogen technology, has secured a major strategic partnership in Canada that could reshape how the country approaches renewable fuel production.

The deal, announced December 12, 2025, marks a turning point for a company that has spent 32 years perfecting its proprietary thermolysis technology. It also signals growing momentum for biomass conversion in a country sitting on enormous untapped resources.

What the Partnership Includes

The agreement establishes three core pillars designed to accelerate green hydrogen and biofuel production across the country.

The Quebec project represents just the beginning. This initial 5 MW facility is one-quarter the capacity of subsequent projects, paving the way for dozens of 20 MW multi-energy hubs across Canada. Each hub will flexibly produce hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, methanol, or biodiesel depending on market demand.

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The Numbers That Matter

That hydrogen production cost of under €2.50 per kilogram is particularly noteworthy. For comparison, conventional electrolyzers typically produce hydrogen at around €10/kg for similar capacity units. The company's new H6 generation technology also reduces capital expenditure by a factor of three compared to its previous systems.

Why Canada Makes Strategic Sense

Canada produces 18 times more biomass than France, making it an ideal location for scaling biomass-to-fuel technology. The country's vast forestry and agricultural sectors generate enormous quantities of residues that can serve as feedstock for Haffner's SYNOCA thermolysis units.

The partnership also comes at a time of growing strategic alignment between Canada and Europe on climate, economic, and energy policy. Provinces like Alberta and Quebec are already leading major hydrogen and biofuel initiatives, creating a favorable regulatory environment.

The joint venture structure includes direct participation from a network of Canadian farmer co-shareholders. This local ownership model could help accelerate adoption while ensuring that economic benefits flow to rural communities where biomass resources are located.

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The Technology Behind the Deal

Haffner Energy's approach differs fundamentally from electrolysis. Instead of using electricity to split water, the company's thermolysis technology converts solid biomass into hydrogen and other fuels through a thermal decomposition process. The company holds 80 international patents covering its innovations.

What makes this attractive is fuel flexibility. The same SYNOCA units can produce:

• Renewable hydrogen
• Sustainable aviation fuel
• Renewable methanol
• Biomethane
• Biodiesel

This versatility allows operators to shift production based on market prices and demand, reducing financial risk while maximizing returns.

Looking Ahead

The Canadian partner's identity will be revealed shortly, according to Haffner Energy. With equipment already in stock and engineering services provided internally, the company expects to recognize significant revenue as soon as the contract takes effect, with minimal additional cash outlay required.

For a company that unveiled its next-generation H6 product line just weeks before signing this deal, the timing suggests strong market validation. The first three multi-energy hubs are targeted for 2026, setting the stage for what could become one of North America's most significant biomass-to-fuel buildouts.

As global demand for renewable hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel continues to grow, partnerships like this one demonstrate how European technology and North American resources can combine to accelerate the energy transition.