Alberta's First CCS Hub Just Started Injecting CO2

After years of regulatory approvals and construction, Bison Low Carbon Ventures has officially flipped the switch on commercial CO2 injection at the Meadowbrook Carbon Storage Hub near Legal, Alberta. This isn't just another announcement. The hub is actively injecting carbon dioxide into deep saline aquifers right now.

What Makes This Project a First

The Meadowbrook Carbon Storage Hub stands out as the first among Alberta's 25 CCS hub tenures to achieve full regulatory approval and begin commercial operations. This milestone came after the Alberta Energy Regulator granted D065 scheme approval in February 2025, following earlier approvals in August 2024.

Even more notable is the involvement of Marubeni Corporation, which holds an equity stake in Bison. This makes Meadowbrook the first CCS project involving a Japanese company where CO2 is collected from a third party and stored underground in exchange for injection fees. That business model could reshape how carbon storage projects get financed globally.

The Numbers Behind the Hub

meadowbrook carbon storage hub infographic

An overview of the key facts and figures for the Meadowbrook Carbon Storage Hub, detailing its capacity, targets, and development.

The project received its initial hub tenure in April 2022, when Bison was selected as one of six recipients during Alberta's first carbon storage hub bidding round.

Where the CO2 Is Coming From

The first carbon dioxide flowing into Meadowbrook comes from Deep Sky Alpha, a direct air capture facility in Innisfail, Alberta. That facility pulls CO2 directly from the atmosphere using multiple DAC technologies before trucking it to Bison's injection well.

This partnership creates a complete carbon removal chain: capture from the air, transport to storage, and permanent sequestration underground.

"In just one year, we went from breaking ground to pulling carbon from the sky and locking it underground for good."

Alex Petre, CEO, Deep Sky

Why Alberta Became the Testing Ground

Alberta's geology makes it ideal for carbon storage. The province sits on vast deep saline aquifers that can safely hold CO2 for centuries. Add decades of subsurface expertise from oil and gas operations, and you have a region uniquely positioned to lead in CCS deployment.

The Players Behind the Project

Bison Low Carbon Ventures is a private Alberta-based company founded in 2020. Its leadership team brings decades of experience from the upstream oil and gas sector, translating directly into subsurface expertise for CO2 sequestration.

Marubeni's investment came through a share subscription agreement signed in July 2023. The Japanese trading giant sees CCS as essential technology for decarbonizing industries where reducing emissions through conventional methods remains difficult. Their participation also opens doors for potential blue hydrogen and blue ammonia production in the region.

"Bison welcomes CMC participation in the early stages of development of the Meadowbrook Storage Hub. We hope CMC's experience with the Newell County Facility and the JIP's evolving strategies can be applied to a deep saline aquifer application."

Matthew Brister, President, Bison Low Carbon Ventures

How the Hub Will Scale

Bison plans to develop Meadowbrook in stages. The initial phase handles under 100,000 tonnes per year, but infrastructure is designed to grow with demand. The primary target market is Alberta's Industrial Heartland, the region northeast of Edmonton hosting refineries and petrochemical plants facing carbon pricing pressure.

phased development timeline capacity infographic

A visual overview of the strategic phased development timeline. As of December 2025, the 'Initial Start-up' phase is active with a capacity under 100 kt/year. The roadmap outlines scaling to the fully licensed 500 kt/year target and a planned future expansion exceeding 3 Mt/year.

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Global Momentum for CCS

The Meadowbrook launch comes as global CCS investment accelerates. According to the IEA's World Energy Outlook 2025, CO2 captured globally is projected to grow from 43 million tonnes in 2024 to 300 million tonnes by 2050. For hard-to-abate sectors, permanent CO2 storage remains a critical piece of net-zero strategies.

What Comes Next

With Meadowbrook now operational, Bison is demonstrating the practical feasibility of CO2 injection at commercial scale. Marubeni and Bison have already signaled they want to accelerate discussions with CO2 emitters across the region.

The hub's success could influence how quickly the remaining 24 Alberta CCS tenures move toward development. Meadowbrook has set a template: navigating the regulatory process, building infrastructure, and beginning CO2 injection is achievable within a reasonable timeframe. Each tonne locked underground brings Alberta closer to its role as a North American leader in carbon management.