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By rdnewsNOW staff

Alberta

Government aiming to make Alberta become a hydrogen powerhouse

Apr 25, 2024 | 3:18 PM

The Alberta government says it is investing $57 million to support new hydrogen technologies that are expected to reduce emissions, grow the economy and help the province keep powering the world.

According to provincial officials, Alberta is already Canada’s hydrogen leader, producing and using more hydrogen than anywhere else in the country. The province says it can produce some of the lowest-cost, clean hydrogen in the world and is setting the course to become a global leader.

To help drive innovation, the Alberta government says it is investing $57 million to develop 28 new hydrogen technologies that are hoped to reduce emissions and power the economy. By bringing more hydrogen technologies online, the government says Alberta is accelerating technologies that could one day be used in industries and communities around the world while getting the province closer to carbon neutral by 2050.

“We are funding new, innovative technologies that will ultimately help hydrogen power Alberta’s industries, vehicles, homes and economy in the years ahead,” says Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas. “We are reducing emissions through technologies, not taxes, and creating jobs at the same time.”

“Hydrogen has the potential to transform global energy markets and to create trillions of dollars of economic activity,” adds Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation. “Alberta’s government is committed to investing in new technologies to develop a hydrogen market and to ensure that Alberta is the hydrogen capital of Canada. These investments will help to grow and diversify our economy, and secure our future as a global energy powerhouse for generations to come.”

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“Alberta is pursuing a hydrogen economy and new hydrogen technologies that will lead Canada into the future. In time, we’ll deliver this clean energy to allies and trading partners that are looking to lower emissions,” states Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals.

Using the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction program, the province says it is funding a wide range of technologies. This includes:

• $7 million to help Linde Canada install hydrogen production, distribution and refueling infrastructure in Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan to supply hydrogen for Edmonton Transit,
• $7 million to help NuVista Energy demonstrate a technology that converts natural gas feedstock into low-carbon hydrogen and solid carbon,
• $6.9 million to help the City of Edmonton demonstrate a methanol-to-hydrogen fueling system while integrating two hydrogen vehicle technologies to test fueling and vehicle performance,
• $5 million to help Strathcona County install a hydrogen-fueled system to provide heat and power at the Millennium Place Recreation Centre,
• $2.2 million to help the City of Calgary pilot and test hydrogen vehicles and equipment to determine suitability and use in Alberta,
• $1.9 million to help the Pipeline Research Council test materials for retrofitting existing natural gas pipelines for hydrogen, and
• $1.7 million to help Edmonton International Airport explore hydrogen’s use in aviation.

“The Government of Alberta’s significant investment in hydrogen is essential for our province to become a major player in the global hydrogen economy,” says Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta. “These projects build on the province’s early successes in the low carbon hydrogen value chain and will not only improve our market presence, but also reduce our emissions.”

“The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is advancing technology and innovation to ensure Alberta remains a global energy system leader,” shares Laura Kilcrease, CEO, Alberta Innovates. “The work we do today will create a foundation, and lay the groundwork for companies to work with hydrogen in the near future. That’s not only good for innovators but also for creating a strong Alberta economy.”

Provincial officials say the funding, delivered through Emissions Reduction Alberta and Alberta Innovates, will support projects led by industry, researchers and municipalities. It is expected to drive first-of-their-kind technologies to be used in hydrogen production, transmission and distribution, storage, and transportation, and expand hydrogen use in communities and in heavy-duty transportation, natural gas production, chemicals and other industries.

The government says all projects are Alberta-based and explore new, innovative technologies rather than what is currently commercially available.

Officials say this is part of Alberta’s ongoing work to implement the Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan, Hydrogen Roadmap and Natural Gas Strategy. The government says these strategies set the course for Alberta to be carbon neutral by 2050 and a major player on the global hydrogen stage.

Alberta government quick facts

• Hydrogen is expected to be a $2.5-trillion to $11-trillion industry worldwide by 2050.
• The 28 successful projects are the result of Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Accelerating Hydrogen Challenge, delivered in co-ordination with a parallel funding competition from Alberta Innovates’ Hydrogen Centre of Excellence. More detailed project information is listed on their websites.
• Twenty projects that are at an earlier stage of development are being funded through Alberta Innovates and the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, and eight later-stage opportunities are being funded through Emissions Reduction Alberta.
• The two competitions were open to technology developers, industry and industry associations, small and medium enterprises, research and development organizations, post-secondary institutions, municipalities, not-for-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations and municipalities.
• Funding for each project ranges from $300,000 to $7 million.
• If successful, the later-stage projects being funded through Emissions Reduction Alberta are estimated to reduce 13,000 tonnes of emissions per year and support 720 jobs.
• To date, Emissions Reduction Alberta has invested more than $86 million from the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction fund in hydrogen technologies worth $1.9 billion. Combined, these projects will result in nearly 5 million tonnes of emissions reductions by 2030.