Ontario Investing in Hydrogen to Fuel Province’s Growing Economy
Projects to explore expanding hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel
MARKHAM – The Ontario government announced on October 12 the first six projects that will receive funding through the new Hydrogen Innovation Fund, which will kickstart and develop opportunities for low-carbon hydrogen to serve as a clean fuel while strengthening the province’s reliable, affordable and clean electricity grid. The projects represent $7.5 million in funding and mark another milestone in the implementation of the province’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy.
Hydrogen is a versatile fuel that can be used for vehicles and industrial processes. Hydrogen can also be blended with natural gas in the existing natural gas distribution system while emitting little to no greenhouse gases or other pollution.
“Our government is leveraging one of our province’s clear strengths – our world-class clean, reliable and affordable electricity system – to make us a leader in the growing hydrogen economy,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy. “Today’s investments, which are part of our larger $15 million Hydrogen Innovation Fund, will kickstart new opportunities for hydrogen to be used as a clean fuel, creating new jobs and driving down emissions at the same time.”
In February 2023, Ontario announced it would establish a Hydrogen Innovation Fund that will invest $15 million over the next three years to kickstart and develop opportunities for hydrogen to be integrated into Ontario’s clean electricity system, including hydrogen storage. The first six recipients of the Hydrogen Innovation Fund, administered by the Independent Electricity System Operator, will focus on the opportunities for hydrogen to serve as a clean alternative fuel for transportation and other end-uses and include:
Enbridge Gas in Markham is receiving $1,787,480 for North America’s first hydrogen driven Combined Heat and Power facility that can also blend hydrogen with natural gas to produce energy.
Emerald Energy from Waste Inc. in Brampton is receiving $2,990,000 for a new facility that will produce hydrogen from waste to test its ability to provide electricity grid services and supply hydrogen to heavy duty vehicles.
Carlsun Energy Solutions is receiving $1,891,400 for a new electrolyzer to test its ability to provide electricity grid services and supply a hydrogen fuelling station in Port Elgin.
Carlsun Energy Solutions is also receiving $500,000 for its Goderich and Seaforth locations to study the feasibility of using off-peak electricity to produce hydrogen for power generation and ammonia for fertilizer.
Kinectrics is receiving $250,000 to study the feasibility of integrating hydrogen production, hydrogen power generation and a hydrogen fuelling station.
The University of Windsor is receiving $130,000 to research the potential of low-carbon hydrogen produced with wind to provide grid services and support the greenhouse sector.
“The potential for hydrogen as a clean fuel is tremendous – in addition to industrial and transportation uses, it can be blended into the natural gas pipeline to heat and power homes and businesses, said Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “We are building on the momentum and support for our province’s low-carbon hydrogen economy in the near term and into the future.”
“As Ontario explores pathways to achieve a low-carbon energy future, one of the fuels that shows considerable promise is hydrogen,” said Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO of the IESO. “The projects announced today will reveal crucial insights into how hydrogen electrolyzers can be integrated into Ontario’s electricity system while producing low-carbon hydrogen for other end-uses.”
These investments build on Ontario’s clean energy advantage as the government makes progress on the Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy that laid out eight concrete actions to make Ontario a leader in the latest frontier of energy innovation – the hydrogen economy.
