Deep Sky, a developer of carbon removal projects established in 2022, has reached a significant milestone by delivering the first certified direct air capture (DAC) carbon removal credits in North America. The Montreal-based company, which employs methodologies ranging from direct air capture to ocean carbon capture, has partnered with Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) for its initial offtake agreements. These partnerships underscore the growing interest from major institutions in sustainable solutions to combat climate change.
What Are the Project Details?
Deep Sky’s DAC project, known as Deep Sky Alpha, is situated in Innisfail, Alberta, and has successfully initiated its operations by permanently storing carbon dioxide underground. This achievement comes just 18 months after the project’s construction commenced. The generated carbon credits from this facility are billed as the first of their kind in North America, earning verification through the certification platform, Isometric.
How Are These Credits Certified?
Certified under Isometric’s Direct Air Capture Protocol, the credits demand adherence to stringent criteria. They require the projects to fully account for emissions while calculating net carbon removals. Furthermore, they necessitate long-term storage monitoring, ensuring a safe and permanent sequestration of carbon. Successfully meeting these criteria marks a pivotal step in expanding the scale and frequency of DAC credits issuance.
Deep Sky’s DAC credits are part of an ongoing agreement between the company and its foundational partners, Microsoft and RBC, which will extend until 2034. This agreement highlights the proactive steps being taken by these corporations to meet their environmental targets. The certification process undertaken by Isometric adds credibility and transparency to these carbon removal activities, necessary for wider acceptance and implementation.
“For the first time, DAC in North America has been rigorously certified, producing the world’s first CCP-labelled certificates in the pathway,” stated Eamon Jubbawy, CEO and co-founder of Isometric. He emphasized this milestone as crucial for the practical potential of DAC technologies by paving the way for larger scaling efforts.
History records show Deep Sky has consistently advanced its carbon capture technologies since its establishment. The company has demonstrated its commitment by operating multiple DAC technologies and sharing progress at every phase, including groundbreaking ceremonies and storage operations. Such transparency has been key in gaining trust from partners and stakeholders.
Delivering certified DAC carbon removal credits positions Deep Sky at the forefront of carbon removal efforts. While the project reflects the viable integration of innovative carbon capture technologies, achieving long-term environmental impact requires continuous collaboration, monitoring, and technological advancements. Future progress in the carbon credits sector will likely depend on broader adoption and regulatory advancements supporting sustainable environmental practices.
