N.L. may already have a buyer for hydrogen produced by proposed wind farm project

Source: Patrick Butler | · CBC NEWS · | July 11, 2022

Source: Federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson says Germany is interested in buying hydrogen energy developed in Canada. (Patrick Butler/Radio-Canada)

A wind farm project on Newfoundland's west coast slated to produce green hydrogen energy in a plant in Stephenville already has interest from an overseas buyer. 

The project, proposed to be constructed on the Port au Port Peninsula, has yet to pass its environmental assessment but a decision from the provincial government is expected by Aug. 5.

On Friday, federal Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and provincial Energy Minister Andrew Parsons attended an energy and mines conference in St. John's.

"Canada has been a bit slow with respect to wind development relative to Europe. The technology is proven. It's simply an issue of putting the package together in a manner that you can create cost-effective hydrogen," Wilkinson told reporters after the conference. 

"We know with fact that Europe is going to need to import significant quantities of hydrogen. We are very proximate from a transportation perspective to be able to move hydrogen, likely in the form of ammonia. So I would say I think Newfoundland and Labrador is extremely well positioned."

Wilkinson said there's potential within the province for several hydrogen-energy project developments. Hydrogen can be made with water and wind energy, then exported for use as a power carrier.

He said there are more than a dozen interested developers, some with more experience, more developed plans and deeper pockets than others and Europe in particular is interested in moving away from its dependency on oil — Russian oil in particular.

Germany is among those looking to further the use of hydrogen energy for its cities.