Deep Sky Alpha Launches North America’s First Direct Air Capture CO₂ Storage Facility

Deep Sky Alpha: A Revolutionary Step in Carbon Removal

On August 20, 2025, a significant milestone was achieved in the battle against climate change as Deep Sky officially launched Deep Sky Alpha in Innisfail, Alberta. This facility symbolizes a groundbreaking advancement in carbon management, representing the first operational instance of carbon dioxide (CO₂) storage via direct air capture (DAC) in North America. Within just a year, the initiative has rapidly progressed from planning to actual operation, embodying a swift deployment of critical climate infrastructure.

Located on five acres within an industrial park, Deep Sky Alpha integrates various technologies for capturing CO₂ directly from the atmosphere. The facility optimizes these technologies under similar operational conditions, enhancing scale, speed, and innovation in this burgeoning industry. Alex Petre, the CEO of Deep Sky, remarked, "This is a pivotal moment not only for Deep Sky but for the global carbon removal sector as a whole. Within a year, we have transitioned from breaking ground to actively extracting carbon from the sky and storing it underground for the long term."

Deep Sky Alpha takes a leading role as North America's first DAC facility to sequester CO₂ underground permanently. The captured CO₂ will be stored in deep geological formations known as saline aquifers, which are plentiful in Alberta, providing a robust solution for emissions that are particularly difficult to eliminate. Alberta’s commitment to fostering innovation and attracting skilled labor has made it an ideal location for this venture, according to Rebecca Schulz, the Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. She emphasized the province's reputation as a prime destination for building and growing sustainable businesses.

The facility currently operates several direct air capture units sourced both locally and internationally, including technology from UK-based Airhive and Mission Zero Technologies, as well as Skyrenu from Quebec. There are plans to expand the facility to accommodate up to ten DAC units, thereby increasing operational capacity significantly.

Situated strategically, Deep Sky Alpha benefits from access to renewable energy and proximity to permanent geological storage solutions. Fully powered by solar energy, the facility is expected to capture approximately 3,000 tons of CO₂ annually. The construction project has already created over 110 jobs, with a plan for around 15 full-time operational roles once fully established. A proprietary software tool will continuously monitor the progress of CO₂ capture and sequestration, providing updates on Deep Sky's website.

Deep Sky Alpha marks the initial phase of a global carbon removal initiative led by Deep Sky, which already has large-scale projects underway in various locations, including Alberta and Quebec. This launch builds upon a recent $40 million grant from Breakthrough Energy Catalyst and established emission credit purchase agreements with notable buyers like Microsoft and the Royal Bank of Canada.

As a world-class developer of carbon removal projects based in Montreal, Deep Sky remains dedicated to deploying technology-neutral solutions aimed at removing gigatons of carbon from the atmosphere and sequestering it permanently underground. With an impressive $130 million in funding, the company is backed by prominent investors, including Investissement Québec, Brightspark Ventures, and BDC Climate Fund, among others. To learn more about Deep Sky and its groundbreaking efforts, please visit deepskyclimate.com.