Carbon Capture And Storage - An Alberta Perspective

Edited by Paul H. Harricks

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a process that first captures and then sequesters industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before release into the atmosphere.  The CCS process involves the following stages:

1. CO2 capture and compression;
2. CO2 transport from the capture site to an injection/storage site;
3. injection and permanent storage of CO2 in geological formations; and
4. upon injection completion, post-closure long-term monitoring of the CO2 storage site.

A CCS system combining these features will reduce industrial CO2 emissions into the atmosphere.

The Alberta Government considers CCS a critical technology to reduce industrial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and has proposed CCS as the largest portion of its GHG reduction strategy.  Alberta has taken significant steps in advancing its CCS initiative by establishing a legal and regulatory framework to implement large scale CCS projects.  Although the CCS initiative