Carbon management technologies and alternative clean fuel sources play an important role in the decarbonization and competitiveness of Canada’s economy, the federal government believes, and says it is working to strengthen the country’s advantages in these areas.
Canada announced $12 million in investments targeting clean technology projects in British Columbia, including $5M for Squamish-based Carbon Engineering under the Energy Innovation Program to support the development of alternative energy solutions for powering direct air capture systems which pull carbon dioxide from the air.
The project also aims to explore further electrification of the direct-air-capture process.
Once developed, these technologies are expected to offer environmental benefits through reducing the footprint of direct air capture while strengthening Canada’s leadership in carbon management technologies, according to Patrick Weiler, a Member of Parliament for West Vancouver–Sunshine Coast–Sea to Sky Country.
“Canada is a world leader in clean technologies, and British Columbian innovations and companies are the driving force behind it,” stated Weiler. “Canada is advancing Carbon Engineering’s Squamish-developed direct air capture technology as part of our work to seize regional economic opportunities in this fast-growing sector that will continue to create good local jobs, secure long-term prosperity and fight climate change.”
Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, also announced additional funding for various B.C. organizations accelerating local cleantech:
“The Government of Canada is committed to working with British Columbia and other provinces and territories to help achieve Canada’s climate objectives,” said Wilkinson.
Carbon management technology and systems, and clean fuels such as hydrogen, have been identified as key areas of economic opportunity under the British Columbia Regional Energy and Resource Table (Regional Table) – Framework for Collaboration on the Path to Net-Zero (Collaboration Framework).
“British Columbia continues to drive innovations that are cutting emissions and creating meaningful jobs for people,” said Adrian Dix, minister of energy and climate solutions. “The federal government’s support for projects like Carbon Engineering’s air-capture technology shows our province’s shared commitment to building a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.”
Carbon Engineering was purchased for US$1.1 billion by Houston-based oil producer Occidental Petroleum in 2023, following a partnership between the two that began in 2019.