Bison Low Carbon Ventures has begun first-phase operations at its Meadowbrook Carbon Storage Hub in Alberta, marking a significant step forward for carbon capture and storage deployment in Canada.
The project is notable as the first CCS initiative involving a Japanese company, through Marubeni’s equity participation, to permanently store CO2 captured from a third-party emitter in exchange for injection fees.
The initial operations involve capturing carbon dioxide from Deep Sky Alpha, a direct air capture facility operated by Deep Sky in Alberta, before transporting the CO2 to Bison’s injection well for permanent underground storage. The start of injection makes Meadowbrook the first of Alberta’s designated CCS hub tenures to secure full regulatory approval and move into active operations.
Positioning Alberta as a Global CCS Hub
Alberta’s combination of established energy infrastructure, suitable geology and mature regulatory frameworks has made it one of the world’s most active CCS jurisdictions. In 2022, the provincial government awarded exploration permits for 25 potential CCS hubs following a competitive process. Bison secured two of these tenures, with Meadowbrook now emerging as the most advanced.
The current phase is intended to validate injection performance and long-term storage integrity, while laying the groundwork for broader commercial deployment.
By demonstrating operational readiness, Bison aims to provide confidence to industrial emitters seeking permanent storage solutions and to support investment decisions across related decarbonization projects.
Relevant: Project Tamarack Launches Operations At The Deep Sky Alpha Facility In Alberta
Marubeni and Bison plan to use the results from this phase to accelerate discussions with additional CO2 suppliers, with the goal of scaling the hub into a multi-user storage business.
Longer term, the companies are targeting storage capacity of up to 3 million tons of CO2 per year, drawing emissions from multiple sources, including facilities in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.
If achieved, the project would play a meaningful role in reducing emissions from hard-to-abate industries while reinforcing Alberta’s position as a cornerstone of North America’s CCS landscape.
Read more: Canada Earmarks $21.5M For Carbon Capture Projects In Alberta
