Mantel eyes sizable carbon capture project in Canada

Mantel Capture has taken a key step toward commercialising next-generation carbon capture by launching a front-end engineering design (FEED) study for a large-scale project with a Canadian oil and gas producer. The study will assess the deployment of Mantel’s energy-efficient molten borate carbon capture technology within existing steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operations in central-western Canada.

Backed by support from Alberta Innovates, the project is designed to capture around 60,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually while simultaneously producing nearly 150,000 tonnes of high-pressure steam for industrial use. By embedding carbon capture directly into core thermal processes, the initiative aims to reduce emissions without compromising operational efficiency.

Mantel molten borate system differs from conventional post-combustion capture technologies by integrating directly into high-temperature equipment such as boilers and heat recovery steam generators. Instead of consuming large amounts of additional energy, the system operates as a liquid at elevated temperatures and recovers waste heat as clean steam, creating a self-sustaining thermal loop.

According to the company, this approach cuts energy losses by up to 97% compared to traditional capture methods and delivers a 99.9% pure CO₂ stream that is ready for sequestration or utilisation without further processing. The design addresses a key challenge faced by industrial emitters, where carbon capture solutions often disrupt operations and impose significant energy penalties.

“This technology removes the inefficiencies that have long limited carbon capture, making it technically and economically viable at scale,” said Cameron Halliday, co-founder and chief executive officer of Mantel Capture. He added that the system enables industries to cut emissions while modernising facilities for future energy systems.

The Canadian SAGD project represents a major scale-up from Mantel’s first demonstration facility at Kruger Inc.’s Wayagamack pulp and paper mill in Quebec, which is designed to capture 2,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. The new development highlights the technology’s broader potential across hard-to-abate sectors including cement, steel, chemicals, power generation and data centres.

In 2022, Mantel launched its novel carbon capture technology to reduce the world’s atmospheric carbon dioxide and help achieve net-zero. In 2024, Mantel raised $30 million to implement a demonstration project at an industrial site and help pave the way for full-scale commercial deployment of Mantel’s high-temperature carbon capture systems.