Deep Sky exists to remove carbon from the atmosphere, to not only slow global warming, but reverse it. And, the key to reversing climate change is right here in Quebec. Thanks to a number of natural resources, Quebec – and Becancour in particular – could become a pioneer in combating climate change globally.

Based in Quebec, Deep Sky is a carbon removal project developer, aiming to remove billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it permanently underground, back where it belongs, to reverse global warming.

We work closely with seasoned academics from the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS - Université du Québec) as well as the Quebec-based geoscientific team at Geostack. And because we believe a complete knowledge of the territory can only be exhaustive with the participation of locals, Deep Sky is also committed to building a long-term partnership with the communities in which we do business, based on a foundation of listening, trust and transparency.

Alongside INRS researchers and Geostack specialists, Deep Sky’s sequestration team will carefully examine the underground in Bécancour to determine whether it meets criteria for carbon sequestration. Phase I will simply involve an examination, or what we call a pre-feasibility study. This page details plans for that study, including potential next steps, should the subsoil be deemed appropriate to move into the next phase.

The Deep Sky team is made up of world-class experts in geological capture and sequestration technologies. The team also works with seasoned specialists in academic and practical research into CO₂ elimination, in collaboration with researchers at INRS.  

Our humble beginnings go back to 2020, when Montréal-based Co-Founder Frederic Lalonde began exploring ways to offset greenhouse gas emissions from the travel industry. As Co-Founder and CEO of travel company Hopper, he began learning about ways to slow global warming, and quickly realized that carbon removal and sequestration was our planet’s best bet. In an effort to preserve our planet for his daughter’s generation, he realized that every ton of excess CO₂ must be removed from the atmosphere if we want any chance at reversing catastrophic effects of climate change. After growing up in Saint-Jean-Chrysostome, Fred is keenly aware that Quebec’s natural resources present an optimal environment for carbon sequestration. His hometown pride, combined with acquired CDR knowledge and a world-class scientific team, motivated Fred and his co-founders to start Deep Sky right here in Quebec.   

Deep Sky is also working with local partners such as the Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour (SPIPB). Deep Sky is proudly working with an experienced local partner, the Québec company Geostack, to carry out a pre-feasibility study to examine the underground.

Carbon sequestration is the process of capturing carbon from the atmosphere and storing it underground with a goal of reducing climate change. The process requires a combination of very specific geological conditions. Quebec has all of the natural resources to become the world leader in carbon removal, due its renewable hydroelectric power, its wind power potential, and an optimal geological composition for carbon sequestration.

And, the Bécancour region has more sediment sequestration potential than any other area in Québec.

Although carbon sequestration can be achieved in three ways in Québec, sequestration in saline aquifers (zones of unconsolidated rocks located at depth) is so far the method preferred for Bécancour. When stored underground in a saline aquifer, carbon eventually turns to stone. This occurs naturally over thousands of years, and all our process does is speed up that natural process.

Injecting CO₂ into the ground has been practiced in North America since the 1970s. CO₂ will be in liquid form when stored underground, and the natural geology and weight of the ground keep the CO₂ in a stable and safe position.

The Bécancour sequestration project is part of Deep Sky Alpha, the world’s first carbon removal innovation and commercialization center. Bécancour would represent a first step towards the deployment of various carbon removal and sequestration projects in Québec.

To determine if the underground in Bécancour has the right qualities for carbon sequestration, as we assume it does based on geologic data currently available, Deep Sky wants to conduct a pre-feasibility study. This consists of photographing underground structures using soundwaves (echoes). Think of it like an ultrasound.

The data will help determine whether the subsurface is feasible for carbon sequestration, select the best site in the study area and plan the stages of the project, from sequestration tests to final commissioning.

By choosing Bécancour, Deep Sky is making a proactive commitment to building a long-term relationship with the community, based on trust and transparency.

As the project moves through its various stages, Deep Sky wants to meet with the community to discuss the project and expectations on both sides.

In June, Deep Sky hosted two open houses to meet with community members, stakeholders and journalists about the pre-feasibility study and to answer questions. One-on-one meetings with stakeholders and personalized resident and landowner outreach have been prioritized to ensure open dialogue with the community.

Damien Steel, CEO of Deep Sky and Donald Olivier, President and CEO of Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour (SPIPB)

The safety and protection of the environment and the communities in which we operate is our priority. That's why we implement a known and tested solution.

CO₂ injection into the ground has taken place since the 1970's without incident, so this isn't a new process. Our process for Bécancour is called deep saline aquifer storage. Deep saline aquifers are existing, natural areas of porous rock that are ideal for permanent and safe carbon sequestration. In this process, CO₂ will be in liquid form when stored underground. The natural geology and weight of the ground keeps the CO₂ in a stable and safe position.

If Bécancour is deemed an appropriate location for carbon sequestration via our study, the carbon will be stored approximately 2.3 km below the surface, and injected into impermeable reservoirs. The reservoirs do not allow any fluid movement, thanks to a geological impermeable cap rock above the reservoirs. This prevents CO₂ from coming back to the surface.

We've worked closely and thoughtfully with IRNS and other experts to identify a porous rock that can accept and safely store the CO₂. In addition, we've decided to put the CO₂ almost 1 km deeper than existing Bécancour wells to add an additional layer of security.

Carbon storage is a tried-and-true process that has been deployed across the world. For example:

Deep Sky is working with a number of experts and government institutions, including the ministère de l'Environnement, de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques, de la Faune et des Parcs (MELCCFP) and the Société du parc industriel et portuaire de Bécancour (SPIPB), to ensure that the project complies with environmental standards.

becancour@deepskyclimate.com