Carbon Capture and Storage

The Alberta Government has announced a $2 billion kick-start to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through new Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects. For full details on the funding and CCS, read more in the news release and the CCS Fact Sheet.

Applicants whose projects most closely fit with the program’s objectives have been asked to submit a Full Project Proposal (FPP).  A list of applicants asked to submit a FPP  is available here.  Details on the Full Project Proposal process are available.  Illustration of a plant with carbon capture storage (CCS) 

Once the projects are implemented, the expected result is five million tonnes in annual reductions by 2015. That is comparable to taking one million vehicles or about a third of all registered vehicles in the province, off of the road.

The investment in CCS initiatives and a $2 billion commitment to The Green Transit Incentives Program (Green TRIP), which will improve and expand local and regional transit systems, is designed to ensure Alberta’s Climate Change Action Plan has the financial action to cut projected GHG emissions in half by 2050.

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and stores them in geological formations deep inside of the earth.

 

Graphic courtesy - Alberta Geological Survey (AGS)
Rather than being emitted into the air by a power plant or a refinery, CO2 is separated from other emissions, dehydrated, compressed and transported by pipeline (yellow) where it can be injected into geological formations to help increase production from coals beds or oil and gas reservoirs. 
Or it can be injected one to two kilometers deep into porous rock formations where it is sealed and monitored by experts to ensure there is no leakage or impact on public safety or the environment. 

Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council

On April 24, the Government of Alberta announced the membership of the new Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council. The council will develop Alberta’s plan to move ahead with carbon capture and storage projects in our province in the fall of 2008.

Accelerating Carbon Capture and Storage in Alberta, Interim Report (Alberta Carbon Capture and Storage Development Council) - October 22, 2008

The council’s work will help Alberta achieve the goals outlined in its Climate Change Strategy as well as follow up on the report of the federal-provincial ecoENERGY Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force.

Carbon capture and storage technology involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from industrial sources and transporting them by pipeline to sites where they are injected into deep rock formations for permanent storage. Alberta’s energy industry has been injecting carbon dioxide into depleted oil fields to enhance oil recovery for more than 20 years.

Council members from industry, academia and government were selected for their proven track record implementing of large-scale projects and innovative technologies.

Chairman
Jim Carter, former president Syncrude Canada Ltd.

Government of Alberta
Len Webber, Parliamentary Assistant, Alberta Energy
Peter Watson, Deputy Minister, Alberta Energy
Jim Ellis, Deputy Minister, Alberta Environment

Government of Canada
Michael Horgan, Deputy Minister, Environment Canada
Cassie Doyle, Deputy Minister, Natural Resources Canada

Industry
Don Lowry, Epcor
Roger Thomas, Nexen Inc.
Steve Williams, Suncor Energy
Bill Andrew, Penn West Energy Trust
Dave Collyer, Shell Canada,
Kathy Sendall, Petro-Canada
Art Meyer, Enbridge
John Brannan, EnCana


Education, Research
Dr. Mike Percy, University of Alberta
Dr. David Keith, University of Calgary

Inquiries about the Alberta Carbon Capture  and Storage Development council can be emailed to devcouncil@albertacarboncapture.ca

Related links

Council to help develop Alberta’s path forward on carbon capture April 24, 2008 (Energy)
Governments of Canada and Alberta release Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force report January 31, 2008 (Energy and Natural Resources Canada)
Report - ecoENERGY Carbon Capture and Storage Task Force
Alberta to cut projected emissions by 50 per cent under new climate change plan January 24, 2008 (Environment)

Last reviewed/revised: 2008-12-30