Alberta earmarks $45M for hydrogen technology innovation

Alberta’s government is providing $45 million to power new hydrogen technologies that will reduce emissions and create jobs.

The new funding will drive cutting-edge and first-of-their-kind hydrogen technologies to be used in production, transmission and distribution, storage, and in industries like heavy-duty transportation, industrial heat and chemicals. It will explore innovative technologies rather than what is currently commercially available.

Hydrogen is expected to be a $2.5-trillion to $11-trillion industry worldwide by 2050, and Alberta is ready to emerge as a leader in that global market. As Canada’s largest hydrogen producer, Alberta can produce some of the lowest-cost clean hydrogen in the world.

Alberta has created a Hydrogen Roadmap, an Emissions Reduction and Energy Development Plan, and a Natural Gas Strategy to recognize the importance of growing the provincial hydrogen economy while cutting emissions and accessing global markets.

As part of this work and through Alberta Innovates’ Hydrogen Centre of Excellence and Emissions Reduction Alberta, Alberta’s government will launch two hydrogen funding competitions using the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction (TIER) fund.

“Alberta is known for its entrepreneurial spirit and, as we are already a leader in this field, this competition will explore and advance clean hydrogen technologies while generating fresh, exciting new projects and ideas,” said Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz.

Earlier this year, the B.C. government announced a similar $4 million investment towards hydrogen-powered clean transportation at B.C. ports.