Project description: 

In Alberta, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) is expected to play a crucial role in realizing collective net-zero ambitions by 2050. However, the potential water impacts of broad CCUS deployment are often overlooked. This project will examine these potential water impacts as well as the water-related risks which CCUS projects may face. Building on previous analysis of hydrogen’s water impacts, the project aims to understand freshwater availability and the water demands of CCUS projects across Alberta. By comparing anticipated CCUS water demands to available supply, the project will highlight watershed-specific challenges and potential trade-offs within the water-energy-food nexus context.