Deep Sky, a Canadian carbon-removal project developer, has selected domestic Innisfail in Alberta as the location for the establishment of a carbon removal innovation and commercialisation centre.  

The Deep Sky Labs facility is poised to be a hub for advancing carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies, with the goal of producing cost-effective, low-energy, and scalable solutions for high-integrity carbon credits. 

The project is said to be the first privately developed scalable CDR initiative, the first cross-technology project globally, and Canada's inaugural commercial direct air-capture (DAC) project.  

Deep Sky CEO Damien Steel said: “This project represents a world first and serves as a testing ground from which the nascent industry can grow into Canada's multitrillion-dollar enterprise.  

“We're in the business of scaling carbon removals, and this first facility represents a giant step forward for the health of our planet and our economy. Prioritising quality and speed, we're proud that this facility went from concept to construction in less than a year.” 

Situated within a five-acre industrial park at 6015 35th Street, Deep Sky Labs is located alongside other proposed green initiatives, including a solar farm and a waste-to-energy plant. 

In collaboration with BBA, the engineering and design work for the facility is complete and construction is set to commence shortly.  

The centre is expected to be operational by late 2024 and will have the capacity to capture 3,000 tonnes (t) of carbon dioxide (CO₂) annually, using up to ten separate technologies.  

Additionally, the design incorporates provisions for future expansion. 

Deep Sky Labs will enable the simultaneous testing of various DAC concepts, addressing delivery delays.  

Initially, eight DAC technologies will be deployed, all equipped with standardised instrumentation for operational data collection.  

The construction phase of Deep Sky Labs will employ approximately 80 workers, with a further 15 for annual operations.