Shell has unveiled the Polaris CCS project, a groundbreaking carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative set to capture up to 650,000 tons of CO₂ annually while creating over 2,000 direct jobs during construction.
Located in Scotford, near Edmonton, Alberta, the project will capture CO₂ emissions from Shell’s Scotford refinery and chemical complex. The captured carbon will be transported via a 22 km pipeline to the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub, where it will be permanently stored over 2 km underground in the Basal Cambrian Sands formation.
This initiative marks a major step in reducing industrial emissions and advancing Canada’s net-zero goals.
Sarens participated in the project on behalf of Shell, transporting an Amine Absorber, an Amine Stripper and a Quench Tower, with loads in excess of 866,000 lbs. For this, it used two Kamag K25 platform trailers with bolsters consisting of 56 axle lines total, plus a CC6800 crane supported by a CC2800 as the tail crane.
The new Polaris CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) Project, launched by Shell in Alberta, Canada, will be a major step forward for the region’s industry by directly contributing to the capture of more than 650,000 tons of CO2 produced annually at the Shell Energy and Chemical Park in Scotford, near Edmonton. This capture and storage capacity accounts for approximately 40% of the refinery’s direct CO2 emissions, and 22% of the chemical complex’s emissions.
Sarens, world leader in heavy lifting, engineered transport and crane rental services, has been working on the development of this project since October 2024 on heavy haul and lift operations, including the transport and installation of an Amine Absorber, an Amine Stripper and a Quench Tower, among others. As a previous phase for these works, it was necessary to carry out a thorough planning for de-energising transmission lines, removing railway arms, and evaluating bridge capacities to ensure safe passage of the equipment. In the case of the removal and lifting of the overhead power lines, a 45-day notice period was required.
For these tasks, Sarens deployed two Kamag K25 platform trailers with bolsters consisting of 56 axle lines total to carry out a transport that took more than 8 hours via local highways. The installation of the Amine Absorber, with a height of more than 235 feet, required the use of a CC6800 crane, supported by a CC2800 as a tail crane. The Amine Stripper and the Quench Tower were transported by a fleet of Kamag K24 SPMTs (Self-Propelled Modular Trailers) with 24 axle lines.
This project, whose construction will employ more than 2,000 people, is expected to be operational by the end of 2028. In its first phase, it will focus on capturing CO2 from specific industrial processes, such as the refinery’s hydrogen plants, which will produce blue hydrogen – hydrogen generated with carbon capture – for use in the refining process. The captured CO2 will be transported via a 22 km pipeline to the Atlas Carbon Storage Hub, where it will be permanently stored at a depth of more than 2 km in the Basal Cambrian Sands formation. It is estimated that, over its lifetime, this project will be able to store more than 300 million tons of CO2.
According to Paul Betts, Sarens Project Manager, “We are aware of the environmental and strategic importance of the Shell Polaris CCS project for Alberta in particular and Canada in general, so we are very grateful to Shell for considering Sarens for projects of this magnitude. I would also like to thank Alberta Transportation for their collaboration, which has greatly facilitated our work on this project. I look forward to a continued close collaboration in the years to come”.
Sarens has been a key player in the Canadian construction industry for years, thanks to the wide experience of its team, its in-depth knowledge of the sector and its extensive portfolio of cranes and modular transports. Among others, Sarens has worked on the updating of the heating, ventilation & air conditioning systems of Scarborough General Hospital or Finch West Station project -both in Toronto-, installing 30 precast ceiling panels of 3.25 tons each below ground level, and was also able to contribute to the renovation of Union Station, where the team carried out the lifting and subsequent installation of several 9.4-ton iron girders for the flying garden connecting the station’s north and south towers.
