Our Work
Hydrogen

Canada can make hydrogen more cheaply than almost anywhere else in the world, presenting a remarkable export opportunity. In provinces with low-carbon electricity (from hydropower, nuclear or renewables), electrolysis of water can produce green hydrogen for about the same price as wholesale diesel. In provinces with low-cost natural gas and the geology suitable for carbon capture and storage, blue hydrogen can be made by upgrading carbon-based fuels like natural gas for about half the wholesale price of diesel. In addition, making emission-free hydrogen fuel out of natural gas is a rare scenario where the economic and environmental interests of Western Canada align with the rest of the country, with clear national unity implications. It leverages existing experience and technologies commonly used in the oil and gas sector presenting an enormous opportunity for Canada to be a global hub for the low-cost production of hydrogen.
But challenges exist. There is no hydrogen fuel economy in Canada because there is no distribution system, and there is no distribution system because there is no sustained demand at scale for hydrogen as a fuel. This is a challenge that The Transition Accelerator can help solve by working with groups to establish hydrogen hubs in key regions across the country with the ability to make low-cost hydrogen and connecting them to create a pan-Canadian hydrogen economy.
Latest
Canada’s Future in a Net Zero World
March, 2022
Allan B., Eaton D., Goldman J., Islam A,. Augustine T., Elgie S., Meadowcroft J.
Technical Brief: The Techno-Economics of Hydrogen Pipelines
Vol. 1, Iss. 2 (Nov 2021)
Khan MA, Young C, Layzell D
The purpose of this ‘technical brief’ is to describe how to carry out techno-economic analyses for pure hydrogen pipelines, including their sizing, operating and cost estimating. The primary focus of this work is on the design and costing of pipelines transporting large volumes of hydrogen across large distances.
However, the principles discussed here can be used to explore the cost of smaller, shorter pipelines to serve
applications such as a fueling station or the blending of hydrogen into natural gas distribution systems.
Technical Brief: The Techno-Economics of Hydrogen Compression
Vol. 1, Iss. 1 (Oct. 2021)
Khan MA, Young C, Mackinnon C, Layzell D
This technical brief supports the analysis stage (#3) in the Accelerator’s work to identify credible, compelling transition pathways to a vibrant hydrogen economy in Canada. It is intended to provide a tool that students, engineers, policy makers and entrepreneurs could use to assess the technical and economic feasibility of projects to produce, use and export low carbon hydrogen. The work also provides a technical reference to more cross-cutting Transition Accelerator Reports that will be published in the future and exploring regional or sectoral opportunities.
Blog – Towards a Western Hydrogen Network
Canada has many strengths that can make it a hydrogen superpower. It is one of the lowest cost places to make low-carbon hydrogen in the world, and Alberta’s energy workers in particular already have the skills and expertise needed to lead the way in this emerging energy field. But a Canada-wide hydrogen economy won’t emerge unless the right conditions are set and additional hydrogen HUBs are created and linked across the country. That’s why we’re working to facilitate the next phase of development: a western hydrogen network.
Task Force established to Advance Hydrogen Economy in Southeast Alberta
Medicine Hat (August 13, 2021) – The Southeast Alberta Hydrogen Task Force (Task Force), an independent working group created to establish a framework to implement a hydrogen economy in Southeast Alberta, was officially launched today. Invest Medicine Hat is leading a...
Report: Hydrogen: An Overview – Eastern Canada
August, 2021
Hoornweg D., Wotten D., Kauling D., Jianu O., Armouldi E.
Webinar – Pipeline infrastructure scaling for a net-zero energy system—Insights from the European Hydrogen Backbone
In this Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB webinar, Niko Bosnjak, Head of Communications and Energy Policy at Open Grid Europe discusses insights from the European Hydrogen Backbone.
Webinar – Towards Canada’s New Hydrogen Economy: A Base Case for the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB
On June 15, the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB hosted a webinar entitled “Towards Canada’s New Hydrogen Economy: A Base Case for the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB”
News release: Canada’s first hydrogen HUB launches in the Edmonton Region backed by over $2 million in funding from three levels of government
Picture a future for the Edmonton Region where buses, trains, heavy trucks, home heating and farm machinery all run on zero-emissions hydrogen fuel, an essential component of the new clean energy system
News Release: New Report Recommends Paradigm Shift in Approach to Tackling Climate Change
Reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions will require major changes in the large-scale systems we use to meet societal needs, such as the way we produce and distribute energy or move people and goods.