Carbon capture and storage (CCS)
CCS is a proven technology used around the world, including here in Canada. CCS technologies capture CO2 from a large emissions source before it reaches the atmosphere. The CO2 is compressed and turned into liquid form, which can flow through a pipeline to a storage facility, where it is stored deep underground. Captured CO2 is typically stored between 1,000 and 2,000 metres beneath the Earth’s surface.
Why CCS?
Canada has long benefitted from a strong oil sands industry through economic contributions and a secure source of energy provided by the industry. To ensure our industry can continue providing these benefits for decades to come, Pathways member companies are advancing environmental innovation and projects like the proposed CO2 Transportation Network and Storage Hub. This Project provides the critical infrastructure to transport and store captured CO2 from oil sands facilities.
Alberta has experience and expertise in the safe construction and operation of large-scale projects.
For example, the Quest Carbon Capture and Storage facility in northern Alberta has been demonstrating the ability to capture and store CO2 industrial sources. (Canadian Natural has a majority ownership interest in Quest.) Since 2015, the Quest facility has captured and permanently stored over 9 million tonnes of CO2.1
By working together and with governments, oil sands companies can keep advancing environmental innovation and projects, contributing to Canada’s economy and helping to provide a secure source of energy here and to the world.
Carbon capture, transportation and storage is a proven technology with the potential to improve emissions intensity from oil sands operations, and our members have the expertise to implement it now.
Kendall Dilling
President, Pathways Alliance
Carbon capture and storage safety
The proposed Pathways CO2 Transportation Network and Storage Hub Project will have a multi-layered safety system based on decades of technical experience and scientific research.
CCS projects around the world
According to the Global CCS Institute’s 2024 report, there are 50 carbon capture and storage projects operating worldwide, with 44 projects currently under construction. Learn about some of these projects using the map and case studies below.
*Visuals for illustrative purposes only. Additional facilities not shown.
Click or tap on each hot spot to learn more
Case studies
These are just a few of the large-scale CCS projects currently operating around the world.
Quest CCS facility
The Quest CCS facility is part of the Athabasca Oil Sands Project (AOSP), of which Pathways member Canadian Natural holds a majority interest.2 Quest has a capture capacity of over one million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year.3 The captured CO2 is transported by pipeline to well sites, where it’s injected and stored in the BCS formation, more than 2,000 metres underground. The facility began operations in 2015.
Northern Lights project
Northern Lights is the transport and storage part of Norway’s Longship project, which includes capture of CO2 from industrial facilities in the Oslo region. Northern Lights intends to ship the captured carbon dioxide to a terminal on Norway’s west coast and then transport the liquefied CO2 by pipeline to an underwater storage location in the North Sea. They’ll also offer the storage to companies across Europe.5 The first phase of Northern Lights is now completed, and work is underway for a second phase.6 This will be the first cross-border, open-source CO2 transport and storage infrastructure network.7
Porthos
Porthos is a partnership between the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Gasunie and EBN (Energie Beheer Nederland).10 The project will transport CO2 from industrial facilities in the Port of Rotterdam for permanent storage beneath the North Sea. Short for Port of Rotterdam CO2 Transport Hub and Offshore Storage, Porthos is the Netherlands’ first large-scale CO2 transport and storage initiative.11 Captured CO2 will be transported from the Port via pipelines to an offshore platform and injected into depleted gas fields under the seabed. Currently under construction, the project aims to store 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually,12 with operations expected to begin in 2026.
Where
Netherlands
When
2026
CO2 captured to date
Porthos will store about 37 million tonnes of CO2, which is about 2.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year for 15 years.13
The Northern Endurance Partnership (NEP)
The NEP is a collaborative project between several leading energy companies. The offshore pipeline network and storage will capture CO2 from industrial facilities in northeast England, transport it by pipeline to the UK North Sea, and permanently store it deep underground in a saline aquifer.
It’s one of several CCS projects undertaken as part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet the country’s net-zero carbon targets by 2050.14
Where
United Kingdom
When
2028
CO2 captured to date
Up to 4 million tonnes of captured carbon dioxide emissions per year, rising to an average of up to 23 million tonnes by 2035 with future expansion of the East Coast Cluster.15
1 International CCS Knowledge Centre, 2024.
2 Shell Quest Annual Report, 2023.
3 Government of Alberta, 2023.
4 Government of Alberta, 2022.
5, 7 Northern Lights Longship Project.
6 Norway Ministry of Energy.
8 Global CCS Institute, 2024.
9 Equinor.
10, 11 Porthos.
12, 13 Porthos CO2 Transport & Storage, 2023.
14 UK Government, 2021.
15 Equinor, 2024.
The Project proceeding is contingent upon obtaining sufficient fiscal and policy supports and regulatory approval.