Status of Underground Gas Pipelines in the Caroline Solar Farm Area
The underground gas pipeline infrastructure in the area of the proposed Caroline Solar Farm represents a significant intersection of Alberta's traditional energy sector and emerging renewable initiatives. This analysis examines the current status of these underground pipelines and their relationship to the planned solar development.
Historical Gas Infrastructure in Caroline
The Caroline area has been home to substantial gas processing infrastructure since the early 1990s. Shell Canada's Caroline gas project was once Western Canada's biggest sour natural gas, sulfur, and natural gas liquids development, representing a $950 million (Canadian) investment1. A standout feature of this development was the 25-mile, 8-inch liquid sulfur line—the longest underground line of its type in the world—which was encased inside a 12-inch water jacket1. This was part of a larger network that included approximately 143 miles of pipeline covering an area of 161 square miles1.
In 2019, Shell Canada Energy finalized the sale of the Caroline sour gas plant to Pieridae Energy Limited for $190 million1213. This transaction included the transfer of three distinct sour gas plants (Waterton, Jumping Pound, and Caroline), their feeding gas fields, and a portion of the Shantz Sulphur Forming facility12. The Shantz facility remains connected to the Caroline gas facility through an underground pipeline system12.
Current Operational Status
The Caroline Gas Complex, now operated by Pieridae Energy, continues to process sour natural gas. However, there have been operational adjustments over time. Historical records indicate that Shell permanently shut down Train 1 of the facility during a maintenance shutdown due to reduced production from the Caroline Field, which has slowly declined over the past two decades6.
Pieridae Energy is now positioning the facility for a different future, focused on carbon capture and storage (CCS). The company plans to capture and store underground up to three million tonnes of CO₂ annually produced by the gas processing facility, using the depleted gas reservoir that has capacity to sequester up to 100 million tonnes of CO₂ over more than three decades9.
Underground Pipelines and the Caroline Solar Project
The Caroline Solar Project, being developed by PACE Canada LP, is a 14-16.1 MW solar power facility planned for approximately 57 acres of farmland within Caroline's boundaries347. This project has generated significant local controversy, with recent community meetings expressing strong opposition8.
Pipeline Presence and Influence on Development
A crucial aspect of the proposed solar farm site is the confirmed presence of underground gas pipeline infrastructure. According to Caroline Mayor John Rimmer, the land slated for the solar project had limited options for industrial development specifically "because of a sour gas pipeline"4. This indicates that the underground pipeline directly influences land use planning in the area.
This sour gas pipeline appears to be one of the determining factors in site selection, with Mayor Rimmer noting that the solar project "seemed like a perfect fit" for land that had limited development options due to this infrastructure4. The presence of this pipeline has effectively constrained certain types of development on the property.
Construction and Decommissioning Considerations
Standard practices for underground infrastructure in the region establish that pipelines are typically buried at a depth of 1.5 meters below grade2. This standard burial depth serves as a reference point for both existing pipeline infrastructure and future decommissioning activities.
According to environmental protection planning documents, "Underground lines that are buried less than 1.5m below grade will be removed" during decommissioning of solar projects in the region2. This indicates that any underground electrical infrastructure from the solar project would need to coexist with the existing gas pipeline network, with careful planning to avoid interference.
Regulatory Framework and Safety Considerations
The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) approved the Caroline Solar Project on February 28, 2025, following a public hearing that began in November 2024811. The proximity of the solar infrastructure to existing gas pipelines would have been a consideration in the regulatory review process.
Safety standards typically require specific setbacks and protective measures when developing near underground gas pipelines, particularly those carrying sour gas. The standard 1.5-meter burial depth for pipelines in the region provides a buffer, but additional precautions are likely required during construction activities for the solar farm2.
Community Concerns and Opposition
The Caroline Concerned Citizens Group and the newly formed Rural Alberta Concerned Communities Group have expressed opposition to the solar project8. While much of their concern relates to land use, visual impact, and property values, the presence of underground gas infrastructure adds complexity to their arguments about appropriate land use planning8.
Conclusion
The Caroline Solar Farm is being developed in an area with significant underground gas pipeline infrastructure, including at least one sour gas pipeline that has historically limited development options for the site. This underground infrastructure represents both a constraint and potentially a strategic opportunity for land use, as it allows the use of land that might otherwise have limited development potential.
The ongoing operation of the Caroline Gas Complex by Pieridae Energy, including its future plans for carbon capture and storage, suggests that the underground pipeline network will remain an important feature of the area's energy infrastructure for decades to come. The solar farm development must navigate this existing infrastructure while addressing community concerns about appropriate land use in this formerly gas-dominated region.
Citations:
- https://www.ogj.com/home/article/17218666/shell39s-caroline-gas-project-on-track-in-southwest-alberta
- https://bassano.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2.4-Example-of-EPP.pdf
- https://www.power-technology.com/data-insights/power-plant-profile-caroline-solar-project-canada/
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/news/solar-energy-project-planned-for-caroline-6823007
- https://www.westernstandard.news/business/in-depth-rural-albertas-solar-sinkhole-economic-lifeline-or-environmental-cowpie/62772
- https://www.shell.ca/fr_ca/about-us/projects-and-sites/caroline-gas-complex/_jcr_content/par/tabbedcontent_fe71/tab_eb87/textimage_ac67.stream/1519795030024/dbe11194f33ac5afe5bbec9f7a839303b89b7264/the-chinook-news-cab-2012-version.pdf
- https://majorprojects.alberta.ca/details/Caroline-Solar-Project/4361
- https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/home/caroline-solar-energy-project-generating-controversy-7891612
- https://www.pieridaeenergy.com/stories/keeping-carbon-ground-producing-clean-power-albertans
- https://pacecanadalp.com/portfolios/caroline-solar-14mw/
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/alberta-utilities-commission_the-caroline-solar-farm-hearing-proceeding-activity-7264306473579487232-u3I3
- https://www.thealbertan.com/local-news/shell-sells-caroline-gas-plant-1823258
- https://www.thealbertan.com/local-news/shell-caroline-gas-plant-sold-1823350
- https://jpt.spe.org/tracking-the-energy-transition-pipelines-grids-and-solar-farms
- https://energynow.ca/2021/05/pieridae-creating-caroline-carbon-capture-power-complex/
- https://insideclimatenews.org/news/25012024/inside-clean-energy-decommissioning-solar-plants/
- https://www.auc.ab.ca/featured-applications/
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