About this Report

This extensive report by Transition Accelerator examines the carbon dioxide (CO2) storage potential within the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB), a critical component for scaling blue hydrogen production and achieving Canada’s net-zero emissions targets by 2050. It synthesizes basin-wide and site-specific studies on CO2 storage in deep saline aquifers, enhanced oil recovery reservoirs, and depleted gas pools. The report discusses current storage projects, resource estimates, regulatory frameworks, and technical challenges while highlighting the strategic importance of the Alberta Industrial Heartland region. It concludes with actionable recommendations for accelerating storage development, improving resource certainty, and supporting a robust carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) ecosystem.

What you will find inside the report:

• Overview of geological CO2 storage methods, including deep saline aquifers, CO2-enhanced oil recovery, and depleted gas reservoirs
• Summary of CO2 storage resource estimates at basin, regional, and site-specific levels with maturity and certainty classifications
• Detailed assessment of current CO2 storage projects such as Shell Quest and Aquistore, plus proposed projects like WASP and Project Pioneer
• Analysis of risks, regulatory frameworks, and monitoring strategies critical to safe and effective CO2 storage
• Strategic recommendations for improving storage capacity assessments, drilling evaluation wells, and developing a coordinated CCUS strategy aligned with hydrogen production ambitions