Exterra Solutions Carbone Inc. (Exterra), a Quebec-based company specializing in the safe and sustainable surface sequestration of carbon, has announced its first strategic collaboration with Énergir Développement Inc. (ÉDI), a specialist in energy distribution and production. This partnership aims to accelerate carbon capture and enhance carbon sequestration efforts in Quebec.
The collaboration between Exterra and ÉDI seeks to identify business opportunities arising from their complementary expertise and to develop joint, innovative decarbonization solutions related to the capture, transportation, and sequestration of carbon dioxide or CO2.
“Exterra combats climate change with its technology that allows for CO2 sequestration using mining residues,” said Olivier Dufresne, CEO and co-founder of Exterra. “This highly secure method will appeal to major industrial players seeking a sustainable decarbonization solution with a high level of social acceptability. Our strategy is also beneficial for producers of biogenic CO2, such as pulp and paper mills or renewable natural gas producers, who, even without being subject to carbon tax, can monetize their emissions by sequestering them with Exterra. This will enable them to produce high-quality carbon credits that can be sold on the voluntary carbon market.”
By adopting Exterra’s solutions, high-emission industries like aluminum smelters and cement factories could significantly reduce their carbon footprint while also achieving substantial savings from potential reductions in their carbon tax. Since February 2024, Exterra’s pilot project has had an annual carbon sequestration capacity of about 300 tonnes. The pilot will operate in batches until June, then continuously.
“The challenge of the energy transition is immense, and we need a variety of solutions to successfully manage it,” said Jean-François Jaimes, executive director of renewable energy and LNG development at Énergir. “This is why we believe it is crucial to collaborate with innovative sectors in Quebec, key players who are implementing these solutions. We are excited to join forces with Exterra to explore the potential of the carbon capture and sequestration sector in Quebec. It not only offers a relevant solution to reduce the carbon footprint of sectors with limited options but also represents a coherent diversification opportunity linked to Énergir’s decarbonization strategy.”
By 2025, Exterra plans to operate a pre-commercial demonstration plant with an annual carbon sequestration capacity of 3,000 tonnes. This upward trajectory will accelerate with the commencement of its commercial project, Hub 1, scheduled for 2026. Once operational, this facility will become the world’s largest surface sequestration site, with an annual capacity of up to 500,000 tonnes of CO2, equivalent to removing 100,000 gasoline vehicles from the road annually.
Featured image credit: Getty Images
