Deep Sky and Isometric announced the certification of the first carbon removal credits for direct air capture in North America. The credits are derived from CO₂ captured by Deep Sky Alpha in Alberta and will be awarded to Microsoft and the Royal Bank of Canada.
Direct air capture with independent verification
Direct air capture, known as DAC, extracts carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. Unlike conventional capture in industrial plants, this technology targets emissions that have already been released.
In this case, the carbon captured by Deep Sky Alpha was permanently stored underground, then the process was independently reviewed under Isometric’s DAC protocol, which requires accounting for the project’s emissions and monitoring long-term storage.
Deep Sky Alpha is advancing from Alberta
Deep Sky Alpha is located in Innisfail, Alberta. The facility went from its design phase in 2024 to commissioning in 2025 and has already injected its first tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide underground.
In addition, the plant serves as a testing center for various direct air capture technologies, its objective being to validate solutions capable of scaling up in a market that still faces high costs, technical challenges and a limited supply of certified credits.
Microsoft and RBC will receive the credits
The credits will be awarded to Microsoft and Royal Bank of Canada as part of carbon removal agreements in place until 2034. Deep Sky also maintains partnerships with Lufthansa Group, ENGIE, TD Bank Group, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation.
For corporate buyers, verified carbon removal credits are gaining relevance due to their traceability. Demand is growing particularly among companies with climate commitments seeking to offset emissions that are difficult to reduce.
Isometric reinforces the DAC certification
Isometric certified the credits under its direct air capture protocol; the company was also approved by the Voluntary Carbon Market Integrity Council to issue DAC credits with the Fundamental Principles of Carbon label.
With this validation, Deep Sky adds an important technical reference point for the commercial development of DAC projects in Canada. The next challenge will be to increase the frequency of emissions, expand capture capacity, and maintain verifiable standards for every ton removed.
Source and photo: Deepskyclimate
