Enbridge and CCS
Carbon dioxide (CO2) accounts for approximately 80% of all greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted via human activities.
In an integrated Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) solution, instead of CO2 being emitted into the atmosphere, it’s captured as a gas at the emitting facility, compressed and then transported via pipeline to a strategically located storage hub, where it’s injected to be safely and permanently sequestered within deep underground geological formations.
Why CCS?
In the fight against climate change, the International Energy Agency calls Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) one of the world’s most critical decarbonization technologies.
As countries like Canada aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, the capture and permanent underground storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) is being touted as a vital component of global efforts to contain those emissions from heavy industrial processes, including power generation, cement production, and conventional energy production and refining.
CCS will play a meaningful role in decarbonization of industry and energy, with the IEA forecasting that nearly 7 gigatonnes per year of CO2 would need to be captured in 2050 to meet global net-zero targets. Currently, about 317 million tonnes per year of CO2 (equivalent to emissions from more than 97 million cars) could be feasibly captured in North America alone—and as capture technologies continue to develop, significantly more CO2 emissions could be captured economically.
As North America’s largest energy delivery company, Enbridge is an industry leader in moving to a sustainable, lower-carbon future in which CCS will be a key enabler. Enbridge sees opportunities to invest in all aspects of the CCS value chain, from CO2 capture to pipeline transportation and permanent storage. Enbridge is the ideal proponent to design, build, own and operate CCS infrastructure, given our experience, relationships, size, business model, financial strength, track record, and credit rating.
The long-lived nature of CCS assets aligns well with Enbridge’s low-risk business model. Additionally, given our extensive asset footprint, many opportunities will exist in close proximity to our existing assets.
Collaborative solutions will be needed to kickstart this emerging industry, and Enbridge is committed to working with industry, governments, technology developers and Indigenous communities to provide cost-competitive solutions that meet emissions reduction goals.
So, what is Enbridge doing with CCS?
In Canada, Enbridge is developing the Open Access Wabamun Carbon Hub to be located north and west of Edmonton, AB.
The Wabamun Hub will support Heidelberg Materials’ carbon capture project in Edmonton that is set to revolutionize the cement industry by creating the world's first full-scale carbon capture project at a cement plant. This cutting-edge facility will play a pivotal role in combating climate change, capturing over 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually from cement production and an integrated heat and power facility.
While focusing on the Heidelberg Materials project, the Wabamun Hub will remain open access for other nearby capture projects.
In February 2022, Enbridge and the First Nation Capital Investment Partnership (FNCIP) announced an agreement to advance the Wabamun Hub. We also committed to offering our Indigenous partners, including Alexander First Nation, Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation, Enoch Cree Nation, Paul First Nation and the Lac Ste. Anne Métis Community, a significant equity interest in associated CO2 transportation and storage infrastructure.
With the support of Indigenous partners, Enbridge applied to develop the Wabamun hub through the Alberta provincial government’s competitive carbon hub selection process. In late March 2022, the government of Alberta announced that Enbridge has been awarded the right to pursue development of the Wabamun hub. In September 2022, Enbridge signed a carbon sequestration evaluation agreement with the government of Alberta, an important step that allows us to advance evaluation of the geology underlying the Wabamun area.
In the U.S., Enbridge and Oxy Low Carbon Ventures in November 2022 announced our intent to explore development of a CO2 pipeline transportation and sequestration hub near Corpus Christi, TX. Enbridge and OLCV would jointly market the CO2 pipeline transportation and sequestration services to other third-party CO2 point source emitters in the Ingleside and Corpus Christi areas.
