Canada advances energy innovation with major investments in carbon technologies and AI solutions

Today, the Honourable Tim Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, announced more than $11 million toward cutting-edge, made-in-Canada carbon utilization and storage technologies.

Through the Energy Innovation Program’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Call, four projects are receiving support to advance the research, development and demonstration of next-generation CCUS solutions. These projects will address measures and technologies to improve the safety and efficiency of subsurface CO₂ storage while driving innovation in carbon utilization technologies that reduce costs, energy use and carbon intensity across key industrial sectors.

Project name: Evaluation of Carbon Storage Potential in Atlantic Canada
Recipient: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Location: St. John’s, Newfoundland
Funding amount: $4,999,693
Description: This project will assess the potential for carbon storage and de-risk carbon storage targets in Atlantic Canada. Estimates of storage capacity for select targets and long-term fluid flow will be predicted considering containment risks and monitoring. The project includes an economic and life-cycle analysis, creation of a social and stakeholder roadmap and public education.

Project name: Toward a Pilot Project in the Lower Saint Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec
Recipient: Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
Location: Quebec
Funding amount: $4,999,869
Description: The project will assess a site in the Lower Saint Lawrence Lowlands in Quebec to prepare for a pilot project on geological storage of CO₂. The approach involves creating digital replicas of storage reservoirs to accurately measure storage capacity and will apply 3D seismic data, well tests and a numerical reservoir model. The project will also support the development of regulatory frameworks to further the understanding of carbon capture storage potential in Quebec.

Project name: Geological Carbon Storage Atlas of Eastern Canada (Quebec and Atlantic Canada)
Recipient: Canadian Discovery Ltd.
Location: Alberta
Funding amount: $960,000
Description: This project will conduct a study on opportunities for carbon storage in Eastern Canada. It will focus on saline aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon pools, as they are the most accessible and viable sedimentary reservoirs for CO₂ storage in Eastern Canada. The project will result in a final Atlas (report) that will be available and accessible for various entities including industry, public and governments. This initiative’s regional mapping of CO₂ storage resources has the potential to provide Canada with a competitive edge over those that lack publicly available regional assessment of prospective CO₂ storage opportunities.

Project name: Utilization of Carbon Mineralization for Critical Metal Recovery and Permanent Carbon Storage From Various Feedstocks
Recipient: Université Laval
Location: Quebec
Funding amount: $483,227
Description: This project will advance carbon mineralization, a reaction between CO₂ and certain minerals that removes and stores CO₂ from the atmosphere, to simultaneously achieve CO₂ sequestration and critical metal recovery. The process uses nickel laterites and ultramafic silicate feedstocks (olivine) to sequester CO₂ and recover nickel and cobalt, which are used in battery production. The project will test the process in an operational environment to scale CO₂ utilization for the dual purpose of critical metal recovery and permanent CO₂ storage.