Canada’ Atura Power to explore hydrogen projects
Ontario is preparing its first-ever hydrogen strategy to support hydrogen projects in the private sector, attracting new investment, creating jobs and help achieve climate goals.
Atura Power, in partnership with engineering consulting firm Hatch, plans to conduct a feasibility study for several hydrogen demonstration projects to support low-carbon hydrogen production and the creation of regional hubs in Ontario, Canada.
Atura Power, a subsidiary of Ontario Power Generation (OPG), is Ontario’s largest fleet of combined-cycle turbine gas plants, providing clean energy for the province.
The study will assess the feasibility of demonstration projects to progress hydrogen hubs at a variety of locations in Ontario anchored using Ontario’s clean electricity. Atura Power will support developing the hydrogen economy to assist in OPG and its subsidiary companies’ goal of being a net-zero carbon company by 2040.
OPG and Atura Power recently requested information about electrolysers from leading vendors to better understand demonstration project specifics.
Ken Hartwick, OPG President and CEO, said, “Its role in enabling cleaner solutions, along with potential blending opportunities for hydrogen and natural gas, makes Atura Power the natural steward to lead this clean-energy opportunity from concept to reality.”
Chris Fralick, Atura Power President, said, “Through the production of hydrogen, we will assist in the reduction of greenhouse gases while supporting the development and adoption of a key clean-energy source in our path to an economy-wide net-zero emissions future.”
John Bianchini, Hatch Chairman and CEO, said, “We believe that hydrogen will play an important role in transitioning away from fossil fuels, and Ontario is a logical place to develop this technology.”
Greg Rickford, Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, said, “Increasing hydrogen production in Ontario will promote investment and innovation and support our plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”
Jeff Yurek, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, “The Ontario government sees incredible potential for low-carbon hydrogen production projects that can help increase access to clean and affordable fuel for families and businesses.”
Bill Walker, Associate Minister of Energy, said, “With our low-carbon electricity supply, Ontario is uniquely placed to drive growth in a low-carbon hydrogen economy.”
In a separate development, Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Natural Resources, announced a $ 2.3 million investment in the Alberta Zero-Emissions Truck Electrification Collaboration (Azetec) project. The project, led by the Alberta Motor Transport Association (Amta), in collaboration with project partners Hydrogen Technology and Energy Corporation, Zen Clean Energy Solutions, Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research, Bison Transport, Trimac Transportation and Suncor Energy.
Federal funding for Azetec was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Green Infrastructure – Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Demonstration Program. Moreover, Emissions Reduction Alberta, Ballard Power Systems and Dana Inc. also invested in the project bringing the total funding to $9.2 million.
