The federal government is putting more than $21.5 million into a series of made-in-Canada carbon capture and clean energy projects in Alberta, part of Ottawa’s broader push to reduce emissions and grow a low-carbon economy.
Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson made the announcement in Calgary on Friday, stating that the funding will support a range of initiatives, including subsurface monitoring and CO₂ storage, as well as next-generation diesel engine innovation.
“We are taking action to make Canada a conventional and clean energy superpower — getting good products to market, cutting emissions, creating jobs and delivering the technologies that will power our economy for decades to come,” Hodgson said in a news release.
One of the major projects receiving support is Bow Valley Carbon, which aims to store emissions from Inter Pipeline’s Cochrane Extraction Plant and lay the groundwork for long-term sequestration across western Alberta.
“The investment from Natural Resources Canada is an important part of this innovative project,” said Inter Pipeline CEO Paul Hawksworth, whose company partnered with Entropy Inc. to develop the site. “It will also create a path for long-term emissions reduction across the region.”
Enbridge also received funding to support its Wabamun Hub project northwest of Edmonton, which will include Indigenous ownership of its CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure.
Enhance Energy Inc., OptiSeis Solutions Ltd., and OCCAM’s Technologies were among other Alberta-based recipients, with projects ranging from emissions capture to engine innovation.
The funding comes through Natural Resources Canada’s Energy Innovation Program, supported by a $319-million commitment from Budget 2021 to advance carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) over seven years.
The government has also committed $93 billion in clean investment tax credits by 2035, including the new CCUS Investment Tax Credit, aimed at helping Canada reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
Hodgson said Friday’s announcement was about more than just cutting pollution — it’s also about preparing Canada’s energy workforce for the future.
“These investments show how Canadian innovation can help us grow a cleaner economy while supporting local jobs and communities,” he said.