Deep Sky Achieves North America’s First Certified Direct Air Capture Carbon Removal Credits from Alberta Facility
Deep Sky has reached a major milestone in the carbon removal sector after announcing that its Deep Sky Alpha facility in Alberta, Canada, has generated North America’s first certified direct air capture (DAC) carbon removal credits, marking a significant step in the commercialisation of permanent atmospheric CO₂ removal technologies.
The Montreal-based company confirmed that the credits were independently verified and issued by Isometric under its Direct Air Capture Protocol, making them the first DAC carbon removal credits in North America to meet rigorous certification standards aligned with internationally recognised integrity frameworks. The credits have been allocated to buyers including Microsoft and the Royal Bank of Canada, underscoring growing corporate demand for durable carbon removal solutions.
Deep Sky Alpha, located in Innisfail, Alberta, has progressed from construction to commissioning and initial operations in under two years, with the facility now actively capturing atmospheric carbon dioxide and permanently storing it underground. The project has been designed to demonstrate the full end-to-end DAC value chain, from capture through to geological storage and certification.
The certification process required full lifecycle accounting of emissions associated with the facility and long-term monitoring of stored carbon to ensure permanence, with Isometric applying its DAC-specific protocol to validate net carbon removal. The certification also carries the Core Carbon Principles label, which is increasingly seen as a benchmark for high-integrity carbon credits in voluntary carbon markets.
Deep Sky said the achievement represents a key proof point for scaling direct air capture technologies beyond pilot stage into commercially viable carbon removal infrastructure. The company noted that the project has now moved from development into operational credit issuance, with additional supply expected as operations expand.
Chief executive Alex Petre said the milestone demonstrates the company’s focus on execution, highlighting that the facility has moved from construction through commissioning to verified credit generation on schedule. He added that transparency and measurable delivery have been central to the company’s development approach as it seeks to scale DAC deployment.
The credits issued from Deep Sky Alpha will form part of long-term carbon removal agreements with corporate buyers extending through 2034, reflecting a broader trend of advance purchasing agreements securing future carbon removal capacity.
The announcement comes amid accelerating global investment in direct air capture and other engineered carbon removal pathways, as governments and corporations increasingly look to high-durability solutions to meet net-zero commitments. Deep Sky’s project is among the first in North America to demonstrate certified credit issuance at scale, positioning Canada as an emerging hub in the global carbon removal industry.
