Several Industries will be able to Pivot to Low-Carbon Hydrogen, Ottawa Says

Source: Emma Graney · THE GLOBE AND MAIL · | December 16, 2020

Natural Resources Minister Seamus O'Regan responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Feb. 4, 2020 in Ottawa. - ADRIAN WYLD/THE CANADIAN PRESS

The federal government says industries across Canada – from shipping to oil refining, heating and long-haul trucking – will have the opportunity to pivot to low-carbon hydrogen as the country works toward positioning itself as a global leader in hydrogen production.

The Hydrogen Strategy for Canada, released on Wednesday by Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan, will work along with Ottawa’s other plans to reduce emissions, including the carbon tax and Clean Fuel Standard. Designed to spur investment, the strategy is underpinned by a $1.5-billion low-carbon fuels fund announced in last week’s climate change plan, with the hope that providing market certainty will draw the rest of the $5-billion to $7-billion needed to establish a hydrogen economy in Canada.

The federal Liberals say using hydrogen could help reduce annual emissions by up to 45 million metric tonnes a year by 2030.

Alberta has produced hydrogen for decades. Nearly half of it comes from the oil processing and petrochemical region just north of Edmonton in Sturgeon County.

“We know how to do this, because we’re already doing it,” Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw said on Wednesday.