Atlantic Canada Could Become A Global Green Hydrogen Hub
HALIFAX – Since taking the reins of the Atlantica Centre for Energy, Michelle Robichaud said she’s watched green hydrogen “jump to the top” of Canada’s clean fuel transition.
“We have to transition our entire energy systems to really work toward those clean energy goals,” said Robichaud, alluding to Canada’s goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
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“It’s super-ambitious and also extremely important. What I mean is that we have to transition our entire energy systems to work toward those clean energy goals,” she added.
Recently, there has been a flurry of activity in the sector. Milestones include the Port of Belledune’s plans to develop a commercial hydrogen production facility and the purchase of the Point Tupper tank farm by EverWind Fuels.
Another major movement on the hydrogen front was on August 23 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signed a declaration of joint intent between Canada and Germany, where Canada pledged to help Germany break its reliance on natural gas by producing and shipping hydrogen to Germany.
Robichaud noted that while these announcements and decisions seem to come out of nowhere, they are the culmination of months of work and preparation.
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“None of that has happened overnight. It seems to have come together quickly but it’s been building on a lot of activity going on in the background,” said Robichaud.
Robichaud noted that the Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance was predated by the Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance, an industry-led group of 60 Atlantic Canadian companies that have been supporting the development of economically viable green hydrogen in Atlantic Canada that was founded in October 2021.
“They want to pursue the economically viable clean hydrogen value chain in Atlantic Canada. We have a lot going for us when it comes to that,” said Robichaud, who is a member of the Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance’s executive committee.
Part of that work has included building an Atlantic hydrogen “roadmap” to identify and enable conditions for hydrogen development.
“In the last …not-even-year, there has been a tremendous opportunity in Atlantic Canada with hydrogen,” she added.
Going forward, Robichaud said the key to harnessing the potential of green hydrogen is building a regulatory framework that supports the technology.
“Currently there is little regulatory framework,” she noted. “The government has been working to put in place policies and a regulatory environment to support these projects.”
Robichaud told Huddle hydrogen, a crucial plank in any realistic plan to reach net-zero by 2050, is one of the most plentiful elements on Earth.
“It’s in our water it’s in the air we breathe, and when you use it as a fuel there’s no carbon that comes from it,” she said.
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“We’re pretty excited about what Atlantic Canada has in terms of being recognized as a hydrogen powerhouse and energy powerhouse. We have a lot going for us, including deep-sea, ice-free ports,” she said.
Robichaud noted that Atlantic Canada’s many clean energy resources – wind turbines, New Brunswick’s burgeoning market for small modular nuclear reactors, and hydroelectric resources across the region – are the “perfect mix,” to enable Atlantic Canada to become a hydrogen hub.
That being said, making Atlantic Canada a green hydrogen hub will require more investment in renewable energy sources.
“It’s surprising how close we are to future markets for export. We are going to have a tremendous amount of local and domestic demand, given our current industry,” she said.
“We are going to see interprovincial cooperation, with provincial governments, First Nations communities coming together to provide an environment that is conducive to investment in the region.”
Sam Macdonald is a Huddle reporter in Moncton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].