Canadian Pacific Kansas City on March 21 hosted Calgary Economic Development Ltd. (CED) as it launched the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub, which CED said “builds on the region’s strengths as Canada’s energy capital to drive investment, create jobs, and position the region at the forefront of the clean hydrogen sector.”
The hub will “aggregate demand for hydrogen at scale as an economically sustainable fuel source by enabling collaboration between Alberta’s existing hydrogen producers and the businesses and facilities that will act as demand centers for hydrogen consumption,” according to CED. It will also “bring together experts across industries with early potential to anchor a self-sustaining hydrogen economy, working closely with industry partners to coordinate research and initiatives, facilitate application of hydrogen solutions, and overcome barriers to hydrogen development.”
Managed by the Transition Accelerator, the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub will initially focus on airports, heat and power, hydrogen corridors, industrial and municipal fleets, and trains. (Canadian Pacific Kansas City is currently testing hydrogen-powered locomotives as part of its Hydrogen Locomotive Program in Calgary.) The hub aims to generate private-sector project development—projected at up to C$75 million—and to create more than 100 jobs, CED reported.
The Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub initiative is the result of more than two years of coordination between government, community and private partners, according to CED. It builds on the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub’s model; aligns with the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada and Alberta’s Hydrogen Roadmap; and is a key component of Calgary’s climate strategy, which targets a 60% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050, CED reported.
Initial membership in the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub is said to include CED, Transition Accelerator, and Wheatland County in Alberta, with more than C$3 million in funding from Alberta Innovates, CED, the City of Calgary, and Prairies Economic Development Canada.
“Calgary is a city underpinned by innovation, that has and always will be the energy capital of Canada,” said Brad Parry, President and CEO of CED and CEO of the Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund. “With a skilled talent pool and forward-thinking businesses, we are strongly positioned to step forward, aggregate demand for hydrogen and test new energy solutions that can be scaled globally. The opening of the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub will create jobs and attract investment and is a pivotal step in our journey to becoming a global leader in the hydrogen economy.”
“As Canadians urgently reevaluate our approach to economic security in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment, combating climate change remains a real priority” Transition Accelerator CEO Dan Wicklum added. “The hydrogen industry presents the Calgary region with the opportunity to simultaneously pursue both objectives, leveraging its established reputation as Canada’s energy leader to secure its competitive position in a low-carbon future.”
“Collaboration is our most powerful tool in advancing decarbonization—whether at the regional, provincial, national, or international level,” commented Brent Lakeman, Executive Director of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub. “The launch of the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub is an important milestone for Alberta’s growing hydrogen economy. As we work to position Alberta as a global leader in hydrogen production and innovation, we look forward to partnering with the Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub to strengthen Alberta’s leadership, drive economic opportunities and accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future.”
