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Producing hydrogen in Canada

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Canada’s rich feedstock reserves, skilled energy labour force and strategic energy infrastructure assets position Canada to become a top global producer of clean hydrogen. Each region in Canada will have a unique mix of production based on local resources and economic factors to meet the growing demand for hydrogen. Canada’s extensive natural gas pipeline network, combined with new storage and distribution assets, can be leveraged to move hydrogen from production to end-use locations.

How is hydrogen produced?

There is a wide range of environmentally friendly ways to produce hydrogen. These include:

  • hydro
  • wind
  • solar
  • geothermal
  • biomass
  • methane pyrolysis
  • nuclear
  • natural gas with carbon capture, utilization and storage
  • deposits of naturally occurring hydrogen

This diversity of sources makes hydrogen a promising energy carrier and enables hydrogen production from coast to coast to coast.

Electrolysis

This process splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using an electric current. The resulting hydrogen is very pure and can be used directly in transportation and other end-use applications such as heating or to power industrial processes. This production method is extremely clean and, considering that 82% of Canada’s electricity supply comes from either renewable or non-GHG-emitting sources, has enormous growth potential in Canada and can help improve the economic viability of variable renewables.

Natural gas

Natural gas can be converted to hydrogen and CO2 via processes such as steam methane reforming or autothermal reforming. If CO2 can be captured and stored, the carbon intensity of the resulting hydrogen can be reduced by up to 98 %, offering a unique opportunity to leverage Canada’s gas reserves to produce low-carbon energy. Methane pyrolysis is another emerging pathway, where methane (CH4) is heated to very high temperatures in the absence of oxygen until its chemical composition changes, splitting into hydrogen and solid carbon.

Biomass gasification

Biomass gasification, a stable technology that uses high temperature steam to break down biomass (forest, agricultural waste or dry organic waste) into hydrogen and other products of combustion, is considered both renewable and carbon-neutral. If it is coupled with carbon capture and storage, the process becomes carbon-negative.

Landfill, sewage, and agricultural gas reformation

Another potential source of hydrogen from biomass is the use of the steam methane reformation process resulting from the breakdown of organic matter in landfills, sewage treatment plants and agricultural waste sites.

Canada’s hydrogen production potential

The array of production methods offers vast economic opportunities across the country. The pathways that will be adopted in each region of Canada depends on:

  • the availability of feedstocks
  • energy inputs
  • suitable sites for carbon capture and storage
Text version: Canada’s hydrogen production potential

Legend

Colour 1: Fossil fuel hydrogen production potential
Colour 2: Hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential
Colour 3: Nuclear hydrogen production potential
Colour 4: Mixed feedstock hydrogen production potential

Hydrogen production potential by region or province

North: Mixed feedstock hydrogen production potential (colour 4)

  • Limited grid coverage, 94% hydro
  • Potential role for H2 in mini-grids for remote communities

British Columbia: Fossil fuel hydrogen production potential and hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential (colour 1 and colour 2)

  • Low Cl electricity grid (91% hydro), 4th largest electricity producer in Canada
  • Vast natural gas reserves in Montnay Formation in NE of province position it as 2nd largest NG producer in Canada

Alberta: Fossil fuel hydrogen production potential (colour 1)

  • Predominately NG and coal/coke-based electricity system
  • Significant fossil fuel reserves and CO2 sequestration potential, Canada’s largest NG producer

Saskatchewan: Fossil fuel hydrogen production potential (colour 1)

  • Fossil fuel-based electricity system, with 14% wind
  • Opportunities for wind, NG reformation as 3rd largest NG producer in Canada

Manitoba: Hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential (colour 2)

  • 97% electricity hydro
  • Opportunities for electrolysis

Ontario: Hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential and nuclear hydrogen production potential (colour 2 and colour 3)

  • Large nuclear energy sector with potential for synergies with H2

Quebec: Hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential (colour 2)

  • 95% hydro electricity
  • Opportunities for electrolysis

New Brunswick: Nuclear hydrogen production potential and mixed feedstock hydrogen production potential (colour 3 and colour 4)

  • Mixed electrical grid with nuclear, hydro and fossil fuels
  • Relatively new and well-integrated NG network

Nova Scotia: Mixed feedstock hydrogen production potential (colour 4)

  • Mixed electrical grid with fossil fuels, hydro and renewables
  • Relatively new and well-integrated NG network

Prince Edward Island: Hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential (colour 2)

  • 99% wind energy with interconnections to other provinces

Newfoundland and Labrador: Hydro/renewable hydrogen production potential (colour 2)

  • Large excess hydro generation
  • Potential for electrolysis hydrogen

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