As the world transitions to cleaner energy production to lower Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the Ontario government plans to leverage this plan both environmentally and economically, by making the first big move right here in Niagara!
Following extensive feasibility studies, as well as economic and technical analyses of locations across Ontario, Atura Power has decided to launch Ontario’s green hydrogen economy with their first hydrogen production plant coming here to Niagara Falls1. This new addition to Ontario’s clean power grid isn’t just for electricity purposes, it also represents one of the first steps in the provincial government’s plan for economic recovery and growth. Todd Smith, Minister of Energy for the province of Ontario, stated that “When energy is clean, reliable, and affordable, our whole province benefits. By building critical infrastructure for the industries of the future, including new hydrogen production projects, we are laying the groundwork for game changing investments in EV production and clean manufacturing that will create good paying jobs, grow our economy and reduce emissions,”2.
How will the hydrogen plant work?
This plant will work alongside the two nearby Sir Adam Beck Generating Stations: hydroelectricity plants which already create electricity with hydropower from Niagara Falls. This electricity will then be used to create the low-carbon hydrogen by powering a 20-Megawatt (MW) electrolyser, which uses water and electricity as its sole inputs3. Electrolysis is the process of breaking H20 (water) molecules into its separate elements, hydrogen and oxygen4. This hydrogen can then be stored and used to power a plentiful array of technologies including cars, factories, and to heat homes.
Hydrogen is a versatile fuel that can be used directly in place of fossil fuels in a variety of settings. These include high-temperature industrial settings in the manufacturing sector to produce goods like cement and steel, as well as in conjunction with natural gas in the energy sector to heat homes and their water. These two energy-consuming sectors, combined with transportation, represented 75% of Ontario’s GHG emissions in 2019, according to the Ontario Government5. A large consideration for the future use of green hydrogen power is in the transportation sector specifically, which is Ontario’s largest consumer of fossil fuels, and produces 33% of the province’s total emissions6.
A Big Step Forward
The introduction of green hydrogen to the Niagara region not only represents Ontario’s and Niagara’s efforts towards a cleaner future for our planet, but also the beginning of the province’s plan to boost the economy and become a world-leader of green hydrogen technology.
The provincial government’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy plans to capitalize on Ontario’s geographic and economic advantages for supporting a low-carbon hydrogen economy. Not only does our province already boast a highly skilled labour force, but existing infrastructure to aid immensely in supporting the development of this green energy source. Our deeply rooted industrial sectors are assets in the planned growth of this technology, as well as our already established, extensive pathway of natural gas pipelines and power storage throughout Ontario7.
What does this mean for Niagara?
The introduction of this sustainable energy industry within Niagara enables growth in the regional economy, as well as a sizeable influx of employment into the local job market. National Resources Canada estimates that Ontario’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy could create 100,000 jobs across Ontario, while simultaneously reducing GHG emissions by 50 mega tonnes per year by 20508.
On top of Niagara’s exceptional viability and skilled workforce for this infrastructure development, Atura Power president Chris Fralick stated about the region that, “Large-scale hydro-electric power generation in Ontario was born here 100 years ago and it is only fitting that we would be looking here again as the place to usher in large-scale hydrogen production for a new clean-energy source in the 21st century.”9 Following the launch of this technology here in Niagara, the Ontario government and Atura Power plan to expand the green hydrogen network further to other viable areas, currently including Halton Hills, Nanticoke, Brighton Beach and Lambton10. Starting right here in Niagara is Ontario’s first major step to ease reliance on fossil fuels, revive our post-pandemic economy, and propel our province towards a low-carbon hydrogen economy!
Sources
1.Atura Power. (2022, April 7). Atura Power selects Niagara for the Niagara Hydrogen Centre. Atura Power. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://aturapower.com/news/atura-power-selects-niagara-for-the-niagara-hydrogen-centre/ | 2. Robin MacLennan, E. (2022, April 14). Atura Power Building Ontario's largest hydrogen production facility. Ontario Construction News. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/atura-power-building-ontarios-largest-hydrogen-production-facility-2/ | 3. Nicholas Tibollo April 8. (2022, April 8). Niagara Falls selected as site of Ontario's first large-scale hydrogen production facility. The Niagara Independent. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://niagaraindependent.ca/niagara-falls-selected-as-site-of-ontarios-first-large-scale-hydrogen-production-facility/ | 4. Robin MacLennan, E. (2022, April 14). Atura Power Building Ontario's largest hydrogen production facility. Ontario Construction News. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/atura-power-building-ontarios-largest-hydrogen-production-facility-2/ |5. Low-carbon hydrogen. ontario.ca. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-carbon-hydrogen#:~:text=About%2075%25%20of%20Ontario's%202019,trucks%2C%20ships%2C%20and%20trains. | 6. Climate change and energy conservation - Metrolinx. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://www.metrolinx.com/thebigmove/Docs/big_move/RTP_Backgrounder_Climate_Change_%20Energy_Conservation.pdf | 7. Low-carbon hydrogen. ontario.ca. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://www.ontario.ca/page/low-carbon-hydrogen#:~:text=About%2075%25%20of%20Ontario's%202019,trucks%2C%20ships%2C%20and%20trains. | 8. Robin MacLennan, E. (2022, April 14). Atura Power Building Ontario's largest hydrogen production facility. Ontario Construction News. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/atura-power-building-ontarios-largest-hydrogen-production-facility-2/ | 9. Spiteri, R. (2022, April 7). Green Energy: Niagara Falls chosen as site for Ontario's first large-scale hydrogen facility. thestar.com. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://www.thestar.com/nd/news/niagara-region/2022/04/07/atura-power-selects-niagara-falls-for-first-large-scale-hydrogen-production-facility.html?rf&itm_source=parsely-api | 10. Robin MacLennan, E. (2022, April 14). Atura Power Building Ontario's largest hydrogen production facility. Ontario Construction News. Retrieved June 17, 2022, from https://ontarioconstructionnews.com/atura-power-building-ontarios-largest-hydrogen-production-facility-2/
