New pilot launches as global carbon capture leaders gather in Edmonton for Carbon Capture Canada 2026
Alberta — September 16, 2026 — Alberta researchers have launched a pilot that is tackling one of the key challenges of carbon capture – how to reduce costs and energy demand while remaining effective. If successful, the pilot could reduce carbon capture costs by up to 70 per cent by lowering the energy needed to capture carbon emissions.
As part of the Alberta Innovates Group of Companies, InnoTech Alberta, has launched a first-of-its-kind pilot that could reduce carbon capture costs by up to 70 per cent by dramatically lowering the energy needed to capture carbon emissions.
The pilot combines three Alberta-developed innovations: a proprietary water-lean solvent, advanced packing materials, and a novel microwave heating system that targets energy only where it’s needed, reducing energy requirements. The technology is now being tested on real industrial emissions at the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre (ACCTC) in Calgary.
The announcement comes as industry leaders from around the world gather in Edmonton for the 2026 Carbon Capture Conference highlighting Alberta’s growing role as a technology development hub for carbon capture and utilization innovation.
“Industry is looking for reliable, sustainable carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies, and this pilot emphasizes Alberta’s role as a globally recognized leader in this space. We are developing solutions for Alberta and the world,” says Nate Glubish, Minister of Alberta Technology and Innovation.
Supported by federal and provincial governments and industry partners, the project reflects a shared commitment to deploying made-in-Alberta technologies.
“Alberta has the talent, expertise and infrastructure to develop technologies with global potential,” says Tom Whalen, Senior Vice President; of Applied Research, Engineering and Specialized Testing Services at Alberta Innovates. “By testing this technology at pilot scale, we’re helping reduce the risks associated with commercialization, while creating new opportunities for companies to compete, grow and bring homegrown innovations to market.”
Developed with support from industry partners, the modular pilot features a microwave CO₂ stripper capable of processing one tonne of CO₂ per day. It is connected to the Shepard Energy Centre where it utilizes real-time, system flue gas in the process, generating the data needed to evaluate performance and future commercial deployment.
Once proven successful, the technology can be deployed across a range of industrial carbon capture applications, helping lower costs, strengthen Alberta’s energy sector, and create new commercialization opportunities for Alberta innovators.
The pilot runs through December 2026, generating data on performance, energy savings, and scalability. An update on the project is being shared at the 2026 Carbon Capture Conference taking place in Edmonton this week.
Please note that this project has been made possible through the support of federal and provincial governments, and enabled by industry support.
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