Canada invests in Alberta CCS

The Canadian government is further investing in carbon capture and clean technologies with the intention of getting more low-risk, low-cost and low-carbon locally generated energy to market while fighting climate change.

Tim Hodgson, minister of Energy and Natural Resources, has announced more than $21.5 million toward ‘cutting-edge, made-in-Canada’ carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies – from advancing CO₂ storage sites and subsurface analysis technologies to cleaner diesel engines.

“We are taking action to make Canada a conventional and clean energy superpower,” said Tim Hodgson. “Bow Valley Carbon will store existing CO₂ emissions from Inter Pipeline’s Cochrane Extraction Plant and validate further potential for carbon sequestration in Western Alberta. Cochrane Extraction Plant is one of the largest plants of its kind in Canada responsibly producing energy products that support homes and businesses from coast to coast. Bow Valley Carbon will help ensure society can count on these products for decades to come. It will also create a path for long-term emissions reduction across the region and give other industrial emitters in the region the opportunity to meet their decarbonisation goals. The investment from Natural Resources Canada is an important part of this innovative project developing a state-of-the art monitoring program for CO₂ storage.”

The government is investing $319 million over seven years under a 2021 Budget decision to direct funds into research, development and demonstrations to advance the commercial viability of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies. Natural Resources Canada is delivering on this commitment through the Energy Innovation Programme (EIP).

The projects just announced are funded under the EIP’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage RD&D call for proposals. The call supports the research, development and demonstration of next-generation carbon capture and storage technologies that have the potential to significantly reduce the costs of capturing and storing carbon.