Shell Canada Products, a subsidiary of Shell plc, has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for Polaris, a carbon capture project at the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park in Scotford, Alberta, Canada. The Polaris project aims to capture approximately 650,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually from the Shell-owned Scotford refinery and chemicals complex, significantly reducing emissions by up to 40% and 22%, respectively.
Shell Partners with ATCO EnPower for Atlas Carbon Storage Hub
In addition to the Polaris FID, Shell has also announced FID to proceed with the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub in partnership with ATCO EnPower. The first phase of Atlas will provide permanent underground storage for CO₂ captured by the Polaris project, building 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.

Carbon Capture and Storage Crucial for Achieving Paris Agreement Climate Goals
Huibert Vigeveno, Shell’s Downstream, Renewable and Energy Solutions Director, emphasized the importance of carbon capture and storage technology in achieving the Paris Agreement climate goals. He stated, “The Polaris and Atlas projects are important steps in reducing emissions from our own operations.”
Shell’s Investment in Low-Carbon Energy Solutions
Shell plans to invest US $10 to $15 billion between 2023 and 2025 in various low-carbon energy solutions, including:
- Carbon capture and storage
- E-mobility
- Low-carbon fuels
- Renewable power generation
- Hydrogen

This investment demonstrates Shell’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and contributing to the global effort to combat climate change.
The Future of Carbon Capture and Storage at Shell’s Scotford Facility
The captured CO₂ from Polaris will be transported to two storage wells in the Basal Cambrian Sands formation, a proven CO₂ storage site. With Polaris building on the success of Quest, Shell is well-positioned to continue reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.