“I’m pleased that 19 new proposals have been selected to begin exploring how to develop environmentally safe carbon storage hubs to reduce emissions across Alberta.

“The projects were selected through a competitive process taking into account a variety of important factors, including location, Indigenous benefits, open access to regional emitters, an understanding of potential interplay with other resource development activities and the readiness to move forward quickly.

“These companies will now be invited to work with Alberta Energy to further evaluate each proposal’s suitability for safely storing carbon. When fully developed, the hubs will allow operators to safely collect, transport and permanently store captured carbon dioxide from multiple industrial emissions sources throughout the province.

“Alberta is a global leader with a proven track record in employing carbon capture on a commercial scale. We’ve now selected 25 proposals this year. We are moving as rapidly and safely as anywhere in the world. This province is embracing a low-carbon future while ensuring that carbon capture and sequestration is deployed safely, responsibly and strategically in the best interest of Albertans.

“Developing carbon storage hubs will help diversify the energy sector, including developing clean hydrogen and supporting the shift towards a net-zero electricity grid. It will also support emissions reductions in manufacturing sectors like concrete and fertilizer that require high heat and cannot economically switch to electricity.

“This is another step in our province’s journey towards a low-carbon future, which began with North America’s first carbon pricing system for large emitters. Since those early days, Alberta has taken a practical, responsible approach based on scientific innovation and commercial reality. We embrace realistic solutions that work while keeping energy affordable.”

Quick facts

  • Alberta is a leader in developing this technology and has some of the most stringent guidelines in the world to protect public safety, the environment and landowners.
  • Captured carbon dioxide from large-scale projects is stored in porous underground geological formations deep below the Earth’s surface, typically more than one kilometre underground.
  • Research demonstrates that various geological trapping mechanisms prevent the carbon dioxide from having any impact on water, plants or the soil.
  • In March 2022, the government selected six projects to develop carbon storage hubs in the Industrial Heartland. All six have since successfully entered into evaluation agreements with the province.
  • The 19 successful proponents from the second competition will be invited to sign a generic carbon capture and storage evaluation agreement to evaluate the suitability of their pore space. 
  • Once the evaluation is complete, proponents can apply for a sequestration agreement, which will grant proponents, as carbon sequestration hub operators, the right to inject carbon dioxide into their allotted pore space. This agreement will also ensure they will provide open access to all emitters and affordable use of the hub.
  • Specific project details, including exact locations, will be determined as proposals are further evaluated and the tenure and regulatory processes are completed.
  • Hub operators will need to obtain all regulatory approvals from the Alberta Energy Regulator and Alberta Environment and Parks.
  • Along with storage hubs, Alberta Energy will continue to engage with stakeholders to understand and work to address other various carbon sequestration scenarios, including small scale and remote opportunities in the future. Based on this work, future requests for project proposals may be considered at a later date.