Shell PLC has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the Polaris carbon capture project at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park, Scotford in Alberta, Canada. The project is designed to capture approximately 650,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually from the Shell-owned Scotford refinery and chemicals complex. Additionally, Shell has also announced the FID to proceed with the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub in partnership with ATCO EnPower, which will provide permanent underground storage for CO₂ captured by the Polaris project.
Huibert Vigeveno, Shell’s Downstream, Renewable and Energy Solutions Director, emphasized the significance of these projects in reducing emissions from their operations, stating, "Carbon capture and storage is a key technology to achieve the Paris Agreement climate goals." The Polaris and Atlas projects are expected to commence operations toward the end of 2028.
Polaris, a 100% Shell-owned project, is projected to reduce Scope 1 CO₂ emissions at Shell’s Scotford refinery by capturing and storing up to 40% and by up to 22% at the chemicals complex. The captured CO₂ will be transported to the Atlas Hub via a 22-kilometre pipeline to two storage wells, where it will be stored approximately two kilometres underground in the Basal Cambrian Sands, the same formation used to successfully store CO₂ from the Quest CCS facility.
The Atlas Carbon Storage Hub, in which Shell is a 50/50 partner with ATCO EnPower, will provide permanent underground storage for CO₂ captured by the Polaris project. A future phase of the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub, potentially storing carbon for the partners and third parties, is subject to a future investment decision.
These projects build on the success of the Quest carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at Scotford, which has safely captured and stored more than nine million tonnes of CO₂ since 2015. Shell plans to invest $10-$15 billion across 2023-2025 to support the development of low-carbon energy solutions, including e-mobility, low-carbon fuels, renewable power generation, hydrogen, and carbon capture and storage.
In conclusion, Shell's investment in the Polaris and Atlas projects underscores its commitment to reducing emissions and advancing low-carbon energy solutions, aligning with its broader strategy to address climate change and contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement.