BBA wins the Visionary Award at the Grands Prix du génie-conseil québécois gala

Along with its partners, Polytechnique Montréal and Consortium SAF+, BBA received the prestigious Visionary Award for the SAF+ pilot plant project to convert industrial carbon emissions into a new sustainable aviation fuel. This is the first project to be undertaken in Québec to capture and convert CO₂ into a usable product and is a precursor in North America.

“Receiving the Visionary Award encourages us to be even more ingenious in supporting decarbonization efforts. We’re proud to be involved in a project that has the potential to transform the future of aviation, and a host of other industries, and that lays the groundwork for creating new resilient and sustainable solutions,” stated Jérôme Pelletier, President and CEO of BBA, during the award ceremony.

Obviously, the project’s success can be attributed to stakeholder innovation and to team efficiency and unique cooperation. “It’s initiatives like this that show us how collaboration is critical to developing solutions that will help us build a more sustainable future,” added Stéphane Charest, Director, Advanced Fuels and Chemicals – Eastern Canada, and process expert at BBA.

While the SAF+ pilot plant project has established proof of concept, i.e., the key step in moving forward with an industrial production plant project to be completed by 2026, it has also helped train a generation of specialists who will be able to approach new solutions, both dynamically and creatively, to help with decarbonization efforts.

“This project was a fabulous training ground for new graduates. Not only was I able to work with senior experts who were eager to share their knowledge, but I also had the confidence and guidance to put this knowledge into practice and get great feedback. On top of that, it’s very stimulating to be able to play a role in developing tangible solutions that will help fight the climate crisis,” explains Jean-Antoine Cyr, candidate to the engineering profession.

Moreover, the project to digitalize a high-voltage substation for the Société ferroviaire et portuaire de Pointe-Noire (SFP Pointe-Noire) was among the finalists in the Telecommunications and New Technologies category. By equipping the organization with a digital substation that meets IEC 61850 requirements, BBA made it possible to increase the system’s operational efficiency and asset sustainability.

“We’re currently witnessing a digital revolution in substations and the benefits are undeniable. The key to success lies in a design based on recognized standards and using the right tools. Thanks to our multidisciplinary knowledge and laboratory, we were able to help SFPPN make the best technology choices to maximize return on investment, while addressing current and future social, environmental and economic challenges,” said Raphaël Beaulieu, Solution Leader, Digital Power Systems at BBA.