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Deep Sky Manitoba FAQ

Thanks for your interest in Deep Sky Manitoba.

It’s natural to have questions about a new project, and we’re happy to emphasize that a) carbon removal and storage is safe, b) this technology is a crucial tool to save our planet, and c) it’ll bring jobs and benefits to local taxpayers.

Should you have additional questions, please reach out at manitoba@deepskyclimate.com.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

THE PROJECT

SAFETY

CARBON DIOXIDE REMOVAL (CDR)

Who is Deep Sky?

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Deep Sky is a carbon removal project developer, aiming to remove billions of CO₂ from the atmosphere and oceans to reverse global warming.
We capture and store carbon, and then sell carbon removal credits to companies wishing to decarbonize.

What is Deep Sky Manitoba?

Deep Sky Manitoba will be a carbon removal facility that captures and stores CO₂ to help reduce harmful carbon emissions in our atmosphere.
At full scale, annual removal capacity will be 500,000 tonnes and the proposed facility will cover approximately 100 acres.
As a commercial facility, carbon removal credits that it produces will be sold to companies looking to offset their carbon footprint.

Why did you choose Manitoba for this facility?

Manitoba is ideal for a number of reasons:
Prime geology for carbon storage
Access to renewable energy (hydro)
Enabling policy and regulatory environment: legislation passed in 2024 for underground CO₂ storage and regulations are expected to pass this fall/winter
Support from the Dakota Grand Council working with the Dakota Nations of Manitoba

Why build this project in rural southwestern Manitoba instead of a big city or near major polluters?

Direct Air Capture (DAC) removes CO₂ already in the atmosphere, and it moves fast; so it does not need to be located next to pollution sources. CO₂ mixes evenly around the globe within months, Direct Air Capture removes the same amount whether it is built in a large city or rural Manitoba. This is shown clearly in NASA’s global CO₂ model:https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2014/11/19/365197982/watch-how-carbon-dioxide-travels-around-the-globe
By contrast, carbon capture at industrial sites (CCS) must be built incorporated into the smokestacks because it traps CO₂ before it’s emitted. DAC is different — it pulls CO₂ directly out of the air, giving us the flexibility to choose the best location for permanent storage.
Southwestern Manitoba is one of the best places in Canada for DAC because of its geology for safe, long-term CO₂ storage, access to clean electricity, and proximity to renewable energy growth in the Prairies.
In short, DAC removes atmospheric CO₂ everywhere — but permanent storage can only happen where the geology is right, and southwestern Manitoba is exceptionally well suited for it.

How does this differ from your first facility, Deep Sky Alpha?

Deep Sky Alpha is a smaller facility that serves as an opportunity to evaluate, innovate and select the best DAC systems for use in our large facilities, including Deep Sky Manitoba.
Deep Sky Alpha captures 3,000 tons of carbon per year, in comparison.
In order to really tackle the climate crisis, we need to build one hundred 500k ton facilities.

How much CO₂ will it capture? How do you know you can capture that much?

Deep Sky Manitoba will capture 30,000 tons per year in its first phase. In the US, a proposed DAC hub in Texas will capture up to 500,000 tons per year – on par with Deep Sky Manitoba at full scale.
Several other facilities globally are planned or exist at the 30,000 tons per year level, so it’s very much in line with the industry and already being done in other parts of the world.
Deep Sky’s experienced team of capture engineers have deployed extensive sensors and measure every part of the process, including total capture and storage capacity. Deep Sky also works with accredited, best in class and internationally recognized registries that are responsible for validating capture volumes.

What technologies will you use at Deep Sky Manitoba?

Deep Sky Manitoba will feature select proven Direct Air Capture technologies for the carbon capture operations. While a final selection of technologies from Deep Sky Alpha has not yet been made, there are clear frontrunners and we will make that announcement in the coming months.

How are you planning to start construction on Deep Sky Manitoba if you haven’t yet chosen which DAC units to use?

DAC units won’t go in until Phase II of construction, and we’ll have our selections by then.

How will you finance it? Is the government providing financing?

Deep Sky is NOT receiving funding from the Provincial Government or any municipal government.
Deep Sky is a private corporation that will be funding this facility through its own means.

Do you have non-financial government support?

Yes, we’re working closely with the provincial government on legislation and regulations that will enable safe underground CO₂ storage.

Where exactly is your site?

We’re exploring a few promising locations within the broader Pipestone/Two Borders regions.
Access to clean power and favourable geology are the two most important factors in our decision of where we ultimately end up deploying.

Where are you in the process?

Once a location is chosen, drilling could start as soon as early 2026 pending regulations and environmental permitting.

Do you have community support?

We hope to make Southwest Manitoba our home for our first commercial facility and take a deep sense of responsibility to work with the community on shared benefits.
Deep Sky is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and abides by community engagement principles, and has an open door policy for questions via manitoba@deepskyclimate.com.
We don’t take community support for granted and have robust processes in place to ensure meaningful engagement and strong local buy-in.
We’ve had numerous meetings with key stakeholders in Pipestone/Two Borders, and hosted an open house on September 4, 2025 which was widely attended by local residents.
We’re also proud to have support from the Dakota Grand Council working with the Dakota Nations of Manitoba. We’ve signed a Declaration of Relationship to explore investment and other opportunities to partner.

What impact will this sized facility have on the local community?

Deep Sky Manitoba will bring an estimated $500 million investment to the region.
First and foremost, the facility will bring jobs.
We anticipate that over the lifetime of the project, it will produce 700-1000 construction jobs and ~100+ full time direct jobs that will include site leadership, operators, and engineers.
There will be an estimated additional 10,000 indirect jobs created both locally, provincially and nationally through new suppliers that will provide equipment and materials to our facilities.
Taxpayers and the Province of Manitoba will also benefit as they will be providing pore space for CO₂ storage; we anticipate paying the Province some form of compensation for access to the pore space.
We’ll also invest in the local community in areas such as sustainability, STEM education and agriculture.
We hope to partner with post-secondary institutions in Manitoba to advance carbon removal research and development. To support those partnerships, we would propose establishing scholarships for students from the region who wish to pursue post-secondary education in engineering, science or sustainability.
We will prioritize and partner with Indigenous and local businesses and suppliers who are able to support the construction and operations of our facility that will amplify the economic impact of our projects.
We will also profile the region globally, making it a place for future investment for other project developers and innovators.

What are the regulations for carbon sequestration in Manitoba?

While Manitoba is currently developing its regulatory framework, provinces like Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Alberta already have comprehensive frameworks in place that could serve as models.
The Government of Manitoba passed the Captured Carbon Storage Act in June 2024 and is actively working to establish a robust regulatory structure for CO₂ sequestration. They are evaluating best practices from other jurisdictions and have maintained an open dialogue with Deep Sky to stay informed on project progress and technical insights.
Deep Sky complies with all relevant provincial and federal regulations.

Is carbon removal and storage safe?

Yes, carbon removal and storage is safe.
The carbon removal process is best described as large, harmless fans that circulate air and capture CO₂ molecules. It has no impact on the environment or the community, aside from noise that’s equivalent to a dozen commercial air conditioners.
Then there’s carbon storage. We’ve been doing some form of CO₂ injection into the ground since the 1960's, so this isn't a new process. It goes deep into the ground, where it remains for thousands of years without resurfacing. The fact that most people have not heard of it is a testament to how safe it is.
It’s not harmful to the planet or the health of our community members – in fact, we believe that removing excess CO₂ from the atmosphere will save our planet from harmful global warming that could jeopardize jobs, our health, our homes, our crops, and more.

Additional safety background

The safety and protection of the environment and the communities in which we operate is our priority. That's why we implement known and tested solutions.
Carbon Removal:
The technology that Deep Sky is deploying are tried and true industrial processes that are safe and have been applied in other sectors such as water treatment plants, cement production, and common HVAC systems. The novelty is in applying these well known machines towards separating CO₂ from air, and deploying different units side by side.
CO₂ is an inert, non-poisonous, odorless, and non-explosive gas.
Our facility produces no harmful byproducts, uses no hazardous materials, and our operations meet rigorous health and safety standards set by Manitoba’s Workplace Safety and Health Act and Regulations, to protect both our employees and the community.
Carbon Storage:
Our process for Deep Sky Manitoba is to inject CO₂ more than 1 km below the surface into deep saline aquifers, which are existing, natural areas of porous rock deep underground that are ideal for permanent and safe carbon sequestration. In this process, CO₂ will be in supercritical form when stored underground. The natural geology and weight of the ground keeps the CO₂ in a stable and safe position.
The Captured Carbon Storage Act (CCS Act) oversees the licensing and operation of carbon storage projects in Manitoba.

Image of a deep saline aquifer at 1,000 - 4,000m depth

What kind of environmental studies have been conducted?

As an environmentally minded organization, Deep Sky meets or exceeds its regulatory requirements.
Once a specific location is chosen, geotechnical and environmental studies will be conducted which test the soil for contamination, the strength of the ground for building, vulnerable species, wetland impact and any archaeological considerations.

What are the environmental impacts? Will this use an enormous amount of electricity?

Any credible plan to a true net-zero future does not exist without permanent carbon removals.
If there were negative environmental impacts, we wouldn’t be doing this work, as our goal is to help, not hurt, the planet.
A common criticism with carbon removal is the amount of energy required to power the Direct Air Capture units, and that’s precisely why Deep Sky is designing DAC systems to integrate responsibly with clean grids. Unlike many other direct air capture facilities, Deep Sky is mitigating energy consumption by only working with direct air capture technologies that are 100% electrified, allowing us to power operations with renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. We are not adding new emissions to fix an old problem.
We look at it like this: the energy demand of DAC is an investment, not a waste—each megawatt-hour drives a permanent reduction of atmospheric CO₂. As renewable generation expands, DAC can act as a flexible load, helping to stabilize grids by operating when clean power is abundant. This makes DAC not an energy competitor, but a strategic complement to renewable deployment.
We also collaborate with technology partners to improve energy efficiency with every iteration, similar to how solar costs and energy intensity dropped by over 80% in two decades. Like the solar industry that emerged nearly 30 years ago, we anticipate significant improvements in energy efficiency and to leverage alternative energy generation/storage at full operations.
The DAC industry is on a similar curve of innovation and cost decline – it just takes time.

What are the impacts to the community?

There will be no negative impacts to the community, only positive. Carbon removal technology is not harmful to the planet or the health of community members.
The only impact from Deep Sky Manitoba is minimal amounts of noise that will be produced, which will be comparable to commercial air conditioners. The facility will likely be in a remote area, so the sound will not impact nearby businesses or residences.
The positive impacts include job creation, the potential to invest $500M into the region, and recognition as an environmental hub.

What will the noise impact be?

We know noise is an important concern for anyone living nearby, and keeping the site quiet is a key part of our design.
Any equipment louder than about 85 decibels will be placed inside fully enclosed process buildings specifically engineered to contain and reduce sound. These enclosures, along with careful site design, help ensure noise levels remain low both for our workers and the surrounding community. For context, street traffic is about 85 decibels while a combine is around 95–100 decibels, roughly twice as loud as our site.
Operations need to be quiet enough for people working on site — the facility must meet workplace safety standards, so no one should need hearing protection just to walk around. By the time sound reaches the fence line, levels will drop to below 55 decibels, about the same as a quiet conversation or low hum.
We’re also working with an environmental consultant to confirm that all noise levels and mitigation measures meet or exceed provincial and occupational safety standards, ensuring minimal impact on operators, neighbours, and wildlife.

How much water will you use?

Our project is projected to use about .18 tons of water per ton of CO2 captured, using recirculation to minimize water use.
.18 tons is roughly equivalent to a standard bathtub of water.
For context, a conventional oil and gas plant uses approximately 5 tons of water per ton of oil, so carbon capture represents much less.
The facility is designed to continually recycle and recirculate process water, meaning each unit of water is reused many times before replacement, significantly reducing total freshwater demand.

What about the risk of a CO₂ leak?

CO₂ will be in supercritical form when stored underground. The natural geology and weight of the ground keeps the CO₂ in a stable and safe position. In fact, CO₂ has been stored underground safely for decades without incident.
However, as a responsible business, we understand that it is a perceived risk. So, we take every precaution possible to ensure safety. We are doing this through robust design and sparing no expense in any matters related to public safety.
The well used for storage will be regularly monitored for any signs of CO₂ movement, to ensure the wellbore maintains integrity.
That process includes putting sensors down the well, right into the rock where we're injecting CO₂, to monitor the reservoir (well) in real time.

Isn’t this an unproven technology?

No. Direct Air Capture has been operating for years in countries like Iceland, Canada, and the United States, with countries such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and Kenya deploying pilot-scale projects today and advancing plans for larger commercial facilities.
The technology that Deep Sky is deploying are tried and true industrial processes that are safe and have been applied in other sectors such as water treatment plants, cement production, and common HVAC systems.
The novelty is in applying these well known machines towards separating CO₂ from air and deploying multiple different units side by side.

Is there risk of contamination of aquifers or rivers?

CO₂ has been stored underground safely for decades without incidents of water contamination.

Is there any impact on crop health?

Direct air capture has no negative impact on crop health. In fact, carbon removal can help mitigate climate change and improve the health of croplands.
Instead, excess CO₂ is harmful to crops. Rising CO₂ causes a heating planet, which in turn causes extreme weather like wildfires, droughts, flooding, and devastating storms which can wipe out agriculture.
In order to prevent that risk, we must remove the overabundance of CO₂ to protect our crops and our livelihoods.
Because CO₂ is a gas, it readily diffuses in the atmosphere rapidly - meaning the atmosphere is very good at mixing and there is no risk of localized CO₂ shortage.

Isn’t CO₂ necessary for plants and trees? Why is excess CO₂ a bad thing?

Absolutely, and we’re not removing the CO₂ that’s imperative for life on earth.
We are removing the extra CO₂ that has accumulated since the Industrial Age due to our use of fossil fuels. There’s an overabundance of CO₂ in the atmosphere today, which threatens all human and plant life. Nature cannot keep up with the amount of anthropogenic CO₂ emissions in the atmosphere. Simply put, we are choking the planet with too much CO_2.
The vast majority of scientists, climate experts, and government officials agree that 350 parts per million (ppm) is a safe level of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere. But due to fossil fuel use, the ppm has skyrocketed to 425.55. [Source: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, NOAA]
At that level, we’re seeing more extreme weather (i.e. Manitoba wildfires) that threatens our health, our livelihoods, our agriculture, our homes, and more.

Shouldn’t we just cut emissions?

Alongside emissions reductions and nature-based solutions like planting trees, engineered carbon removal is a critical pathway to prevent catastrophic effects of climate change. It’s not an either/or situation; we need all hands on deck to mitigate climate change.
The technology helps remove historic carbon emissions, cleaning our air and lessening extreme weather events that are damaging our communities, like the devastating wildfires Manitoba experienced this summer.

How does carbon removal affect our breathing?

Engineered carbon dioxide removal has zero impact on human breathing.

Can’t we just plant more trees? Why do we need tech to do what nature already does?

Nature-based climate solutions, like planting more trees that absorb CO₂, is an important element of slowing climate change.
However, there is too much CO₂ in the atmosphere for trees to be the only solution. We certainly need to reduce the amount of emissions we put up there, but in addition, we need to take all of the historic emissions out (which is what Direct Air Capture does).
Trees are also susceptible to disease and fire, whereas carbon removals like direct air capture and storage are permanent solutions.
So, we need to deploy other smart ways to limit the rise of CO₂ to ensure that our planet stops heating up at a rapid rate.

What’s the difference between carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS)?

There are two methods of capturing carbon – carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). While both methods share the ultimate goal of curbing global warming, they operate under distinctly different principles and applications.
CDR is the process of physically removing excess carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or ocean to slow global warming.
Alternatively, Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) – or point source capture – is the practice of capturing carbon dioxide at chimneys (at the source).
While CCS is helpful in reducing emissions, it only addresses what we’re pumping out of chimneys today. It does nothing to clean up historic emissions that have already escaped, which is why CDR (what Deep Sky does) is essential for achieving net zero emissions goals and mitigating the impacts of climate change.
The future of carbon reduction will likely rely on a portfolio approach, integrating CCS, CDR, and other carbon management technologies with renewable energy sources and efficiency measures.

Isn’t DAC too expensive?

Deep Sky exists for that reason – to help commercialize carbon removals to help it scale and bring down costs.
Deep Sky is the only tech-agnostic CDR project developer, leveraging DAC tech from companies around the world, and not wasting time building any of our own.
As with any new industry – auto, internet, solar – costs start high until mass adoption happens. With economies of scale, costs eventually come down.
Deep Sky exists to help us scale the industry faster. As a project developer who can offer carbon capture, renewable energy and carbon storage all in one place, we’re built to scale.

Glossary

CO₂ – Carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas removed and stored in the project
‍DAC – Direct Air Capture, technology that removes CO₂ directly from the air
CDR – Carbon Dioxide Removal, the broader category including DAC
CCS – Carbon Capture and Storage, capturing CO₂ at industrial sources
CCS Act – Manitoba’s Captured Carbon Storage Act, which regulates underground CO₂ storage
HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning systems
MW-h – Megawatt-hour, unit of electrical energy
ppm – Parts per million, unit measuring atmospheric CO₂ concentration
STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
NOAA – National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
BDC – Business Development Bank of Canada
CCS – Carbon Capture and Storage, capturing CO₂ at industrial sources
ERA – Emissions Reduction Alberta
‍CDR – Carbon Dioxide Removal, the broader category including DAC
OMERS – Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System (venture fund)
t / kt / Mt – Tonnes, kilotonnes, and megatonnes

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