Shell advances carbon capture efforts with Polaris and Atlas projects in Alberta

Shell Canada Products, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has reached a pivotal moment with its announcement of the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Polaris carbon capture project at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park, Scotford in Alberta, Canada. This initiative marks a significant stride in the company’s sustainability efforts, aiming to capture roughly 650,000 tonnes of CO2 annually from its own Scotford refinery and chemicals complex.

The Polaris project, exclusively owned by Shell, is set to drastically reduce Scope 1 CO2 emissions at the Scotford facilities, targeting up to 40% at the refinery and about 22% at the chemicals complex. Adjacent to these developments, Shell, in partnership with ATCO EnPower, also announced the FID for the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub. The first phase of Atlas will focus on providing permanent underground CO2 storage from Polaris, with potential future expansions to accommodate third-party carbon storage.

The innovative Polaris and Atlas projects build upon the accomplishments of the Quest carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at Scotford, which has successfully captured and stored over nine million tonnes of CO2 since its inception in 2015. The CO2 captured by Polaris will be transported via a 22-kilometre pipeline to Atlas’s storage wells, located approximately two kilometres underground in the Basal Cambrian Sands—a geological formation proven effective in the Quest project.

“Carbon capture and storage is a key technology to achieve the Paris Agreement climate goals,” stated Huibert Vigeveno, Shell’s Downstream, Renewable, and Energy Solutions Director. “The Polaris and Atlas projects are important steps in reducing emissions from our own operations.” These projects exemplify Shell’s broader commitment to environmental stewardship, underscored by their recent pledge at Capital Markets Day to invest $10-$15 billion from 2023-2025 in low-carbon energy solutions including e-mobility, hydrogen, and renewable power generation.

Both the Polaris and Atlas projects are scheduled to commence operations by the end of 2028, promising a significant reduction in carbon emissions from one of Canada’s major industrial hubs. This venture not only aligns with global sustainability targets but also demonstrates feasible, scalable solutions for industrial carbon management.

The integration of Polaris and Atlas into Shell’s operational framework is a testament to the scalability of carbon capture technologies. By leveraging established infrastructures and partnerships, Shell is positioning itself as a leader in the transition to a low-carbon future, setting a benchmark for the industry.