Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) and Alberta Innovates to administer the funds
The Government of Alberta, through Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA) and Alberta Innovates, is committing $57 million in technology and innovation funding for 28 projects to advance a hydrogen economy, reduce emissions, and create jobs in Alberta. Projects cover the spectrum of hydrogen production, storage, transmission, distribution and usage.
Premier Danielle Smith made the announcement today at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention. Funded projects include everything from installing hydrogen refueling infrastructure; testing a variety hydrogen-powered vehicles, equipment, and appliances; advancing retrofit kits for diesel engines; providing heat and power to a municipal recreation centre; and more
ERA, with funding from the Government of Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund, is committing $34.5 million for eight late-stage projects worth approximately $162 million through its Accelerating Hydrogen Challenge. Alberta Innovates is committing $22.5 million for 20 early-stage projects worth approximately $118.8 million through the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence – Competition 2.
“We are funding new, innovative technologies that will ultimately help hydrogen power Alberta’s industries, vehicles, homes and economy in the years ahead. We are reducing emissions through technologies, not taxes, and creating jobs at the same time.”
Rebecca Shulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas
“Hydrogen has the potential to transform global energy markets and to create trillions of dollars of economic activity. 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.”
Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation
“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.”
Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals
“The Government of Alberta’s significant investment in hydrogen is essential for our province to become a major player in the global hydrogen economy. 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.”
Justin Riemer, CEO, Emissions Reduction Alberta
“The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is advancing technology and innovation to ensure Alberta remains a global energy system leader. The work we do today will create a foundation, and lay the groundwork, for companies to work with hydrogen. That’s not only good for innovators but also for creating a strong Alberta economy.”
Laura Kilcrease, CEO, Alberta Innovates
If successful, the eight projects funded through ERA’s Accelerating Hydrogen Challenge are expected to deliver annual greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions of 13 thousand tonnes, cumulative reductions of 81 thousand tonnes by 2030, and 493 thousand tonnes by 2050. This funding is also projected to create 722 person-year jobs in Alberta and have a $210 million GDP impact in the province by 2027.
ERA projects include:
Certarus
ERA Funding: $1,200,000 | Project Cost: $3,600,000
Scale-up and deploy hydrogen storage, compression, and blending equipment at an existing compressed natural gas hub.
City of Calgary
ERA Funding: $2,200,000 | Project Cost: $4,400,000
Pilot the implementation and testing of hydrogen vehicles and equipment to determine suitability and incorporation.
City of Edmonton
ERA Funding: $6,900,000 | Project Cost: $28,100,000
Demonstrate a methanol-to-hydrogen fueling system while integrating two hydrogen vehicle technologies to test fueling and vehicle performance.
Diesel Tech Industries
ERA Funding: $2,000,000 | Project Cost: $3,000,000
Advancing retrofit kits for diesel engines, allowing for the co-combustion of both diesel fuel and hydrogen gas.
Linde Canada
ERA Funding: $7,000,000 | Project Cost: $64,400,000
Install hydrogen production, distribution, and refueling infrastructure in Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan to supply hydrogen for fleet vehicles.
NuVista Energy
ERA Funding: $7,000,000 | Project Cost: $40,000,000
Demonstrate a pulsed-methane pyrolysis (PMP) technology to produce low-carbon hydrogen and a solid carbon byproduct.
Strathcona County
ERA Funding: $5,000,000 | Project Cost: $11,200,000
Install a hydrogen-fueled combined heat and power (CHP) system to provide heat and power at the Millennium Place Recreation Centre.
Thiozen Inc.
ERA Funding: $3,200,000 | Project Cost: $6,500,000
Produce hydrogen from hydrogen sulfide waste streams derived from sour gas and test at NuVista’s Wembley Gas Plant.
ERA projects were selected through a competitive review process. A team of experts in science, engineering, business development, commercialization, financing, and greenhouse gas quantification conducted an independent, rigorous, transparent review overseen by a Fairness Monitor. All ERA recipients will be required to report on project outcomes, achievements, and lessons learned including GHG reductions, job creation, and other environmental, economic, and social benefits.
Alberta Innovates received 95 expressions of interest for the Competition 2. That was narrowed down to 45 projects that were then invited to submit a full proposal. 37 reviewers, both internal and external to Alberta Innovates, provided reviews on the projects and ultimately 20 successful applications were recommended to Alberta Innovates’ Board of Trustees for funding. A full list of Alberta innovates’ funded projects can be found here.
For more information contact:
Kevin Duncan
Media Relations
Emissions Reduction Alberta
403.431.2859
kduncan@eralberta.ca
Dwayne Brunner
Senior Manager, Media & Strategic Community Relations Alberta Innovates
587.572.4091
Dwayne.Brunner@albertainnovates.ca
ABOUT EMISSIONS REDUCTION ALBERTA (ERA)
Emissions Reduction Alberta has been investing revenues from the carbon price paid by large emitters to accelerate the development and adoption of innovative clean technology solutions for 15 years. Since established in 2009, ERA has committed nearly $935 million toward 267 projects worth $8.8 billion that are helping to reduce GHGs, create competitive industries and are leading to new business opportunities in Alberta. These projects are estimated to deliver cumulative GHG reductions of 42.5 million tonnes by 2030 and 117.6 million tonnes by 2050.
ABOUT THE HYDROGEN CENTRE OF EXCELLANCE
The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is a funding program, testing and service facility and a forum for facilitating partnerships to de-risk hydrogen technology development led by Alberta Innovates. The Centre received $50 million in funding from the Government of Alberta as an important component of Alberta’s Hydrogen Roadmap and Alberta’s Recovery Plan. The Hydrogen Centre of Excellence will accelerate technology and innovation across the hydrogen value chain, closing innovation and support gaps to strengthen Alberta’s hydrogen economy. Its purpose is to provide innovation support across the entire hydrogen system, from production to end use.
ABOUT ALBERTA INNOVATES
Alberta Innovates manages nearly 1,300 projects in a portfolio valued at $1.33 billion. It works with innovators in all sectors of the economy and all corners of the province to drive entrepreneurship, applied research and industry development. With its impact-based funding programs and services, Alberta Innovates is transforming energy systems for a net-zero world, promoting the responsible use of land and water, leveraging provincial strengths in agriculture, and contributing to improved health and well-being by harnessing digital tech and data. Alberta Innovates is also advancing emerging technologies and strengthening entrepreneurship for a strong and diversified economy. It operates in 11 locations with more than one million sq. ft. of industrial testing and lab facilities, and 600 acres of farmland and employs nearly 600 highly skilled scientists, business and technical professionals.