Southeast Alberta Hydrogen Task Force
The Southeast Alberta Hydrogen Task Force held a press conference on Wednesday, July 6 at 1:00 p.m. to announce the release of the report, Towards Hydrogen: A Hydrogen HUB Feasibility Study for Southeast Alberta, to implement a plan and work towards making hydrogen a major fuel economy in Southeast Alberta.
Energy consultant and author of the report, Randy Litun says Southeast Alberta has assets that have the ability to support a hydrogen hub. Production and distribution can happen to generate and supply the greener fuel to the country and contribute to the world-wide goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
“When you think about Southeast Alberta, you think about the historic natural gas resources in the region, you think of renewable power, you think of the things that are complementary to generating hydrogen and being able to introduce it as a fuel source going forward,” says Litun.
He says the report itself indicates the estimated hydrogen potential for the region is 1254 tons per day. This gives an idea of the magnitude of the demand that the region itself has.
“The region still needs other means to balance out energy generation, and hydrogen can be that stepping stone,” says Litun.
Brad Maynes, Managing Director, Energy and Infrastructure, City of Medicine Hat, says hydrogen is part of a diversified energy source that everyone can work towards, and he expects many people will be driving hydrogen powered cars and using hydrogen powered machinery by 2030.
“We’ve talked to CP Railway about the possibility of installing hydrogen powered locomotives at the power switching station here in Medicine Hat,” says Maynes.
The managing director says when we think of hydrogen as a transportation and trucking industry fuel, and agriculture benefits can come from a hydrogen based future.
“The future of hydrogen for Southeast Alberta and for the region, I believe, is immense. And the report does support that,” says Maynes. “We truly believe that in the future, we can have economic vitality, we can have a cleaner environment, that will all come from this hydrogen initiative.”
APEX Alberta was one of the partners that helped fund the study. APEX Manager Tracy Stroud stated “we are getting inquiries from companies wondering about going into this industry. This data will help them build the business case.”
She also notes that APEX’s partner, Alberta Innovates is leading advancements in Hydrogen Technology across the province. Alberta Innovates has recently announced the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence that provides resources and funding \for new technology hydrogen-focused businesses, or existing businesses that are transitioning to being hydrogen powered using digital solutions.
David Van Den Assem, Senior Manager, Clean Technology & Climate Change Innovation, Alberta Innovates says Alberta Innovates will offer the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence that is funded by the Government of Alberta, with 50 million dollars over four years to be spent on advancing technology development and building the hydrogen economy.
Towards Hydrogen - Transition Accelerator and Advancing Hydrogen — Competition One - Alberta Innovates are the resources currently available, and more information can be found with the announcement report, Fueling the future with hydrogen - City of Medicine Hat.
John Petrie, Mayor, City of Brooke was the final speaker at the event, and said he sees this as great potential for the region. He says it is positive for the energy sector, transportation, agriculture, the environment, and brings prosperity to the Southeast region.
“This is a project all levels of government can get behind that will benefit us globally, federally, and provincially. Thank you to the partners for their time and effort that’s been put into all of this,” says Mayor Petrie.