CCS Knowledge Centre to support Alberta CCUS plan

The Saskatchewan-based International CCS Knowledge Centre said September 21 it would provide up to 200 hours of pre-construction design and engineering advice to each of 11 projects selected by Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) for its Carbon Capture Kickstart program.

The Knowledge Centre, based at the University of Regina, will provide consultation services and technical advice to project developers in order to reduce risk and maximise the value of the Kickstart projects. Its support will be funded by ERA.

“This unique approach to project development will deliver carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) projects with higher performance and lower cost,” Knowledge Centre CEO James Millar said. “It will also ensure the valuable knowledge gained through planning, construction and operation will be documented and shared as broadly as possible, allowing Canada to continue to be a world leader in the next generation of CCUS technology.”

In July, the Alberta government announced C$40mn (US$29.7mn) in funding for pre-construction studies on 11 large-scale CCUS projects in the province. The 11 projects represent an estimated C$20bn in capital expenditures and are expected to begin operations by 2030, eliminating some 24mn mt/yr of greenhouse gas emissions – about 10% of Alberta’s total industrial emissions.