Western Canadian hydrogen refueling network receives funding

The Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB), along with HTEC, a Vancouver-based designer, builder, owner and operator of hydrogen supply solutions, are partnering to bring a hydrogen production and refueling network to Western Canada.

CIB will invest $337 million towards the project, a loan that will expedite and expand HTEC’s operations in British Columbia and Alberta. The investment will contribute to the implementation of HTEC’s full-service, sustainable fuel supply chain focused on reducing emissions in the transportation sector, called H2 Gateway.

HTEC plans to build and operate an interprovincial network of up to 20 hydrogen refueling stations to support the deployment of fuel cell vehicles and advance greener transportation solutions. The refueling stations will be supported by three new hydrogen production facilities located in Burnaby, Nanaimo and Prince George, and a facility that liquefies 15 tonnes per day of vented by-product hydrogen in North Vancouver. It is estimated that more than 280 full-time jobs will be created to build, operate and support the hydrogen infrastructure.

CIB points out that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles can travel long distances and have relatively short refueling times, presenting a unique opportunity to decarbonize the commercial trucking sector. As part of this investment, 14 of the 20 new stations will enable the refueling of up to 300 heavy duty vehicles per day.

Once fully operational, CIB forecasts that greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector will be reduced by approximately 133,000 tonnes annually.

H2 Gateway, an estimated $900 million program is focused on building hydrogen transportation ecosystems, driving which drives adoption of hydrogen as a transportation fuel in targeted regional hubs.

The partnership represents the third investment through the CIB’s Charging and Hydrogen Refueling Infrastructure (CHRI) initiative, which is focused on expanding the private sector’s rollout of large-scale charging and hydrogen refueling infrastructure.

The CIB’s investment builds on previous support HTEC has received from Canada to advance clean transportation, including $5 million from PacifiCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity funding and $3 million from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Infrastructure Program for its two-tonne-per-day low-carbon hydrogen production and liquid transfer facility in Burnaby, B.C.

“Our partnership creates the right conditions for HTEC to expand its operations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the transportation sector,” says Ehren Cory, CEO, Canada Infrastructure Bank. “By investing in hydrogen production, distribution and refueling infrastructure, we are accelerating the deployment of this sustainable fuel solution. New partnerships in this emerging sector will help increase domestic hydrogen production and ensure Canada is economically competitive in a decarbonizing world.”