EDMONTON — As demand for hydrogen fuel and expertise grows worldwide, a new research centre at the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ aims to help electrify the future of this sustainable energy.
The newly-launched Centre for Hydrogen Innovation, Workforce Development and Outreach (CHIWDO), brings together 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ’s expertise — from researchers, government, Indigenous and industrial partners — to advance technologies and train future leaders in hydrogen. Through abundant reserves of natural gas, 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ is already Canada’s largest producer of hydrogen, a zero-emissions fuel that produces only water when burned or used in a fuel cell.
With more than 60 researchers working on various aspects of hydrogen at the U of A, “you won’t find anywhere in Canada with such a large critical mass of expertise,” says , CHIWDO director. A big part of CHIWDO’s mandate is to offer training opportunities and co-op job placements while also educating the public through materials for schools, colleges and universities.
“Hydrogen is relatively new, and people aren’t sure what the impact will be when it is put through existing natural gas pipelines to heat our homes,” Kumar explains, noting the 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ government recently that would allow utility companies to blend hydrogen into their supply of natural gas, reducing overall carbon emissions. This bill supports the agenda laid out in the provincial government’s , which Kumar advised on during its development.
The worldwide market for hydrogen is estimated to be worth more than $2.5 trillion per year by 2050, hydrogen could deliver up to 30 per cent of Canada’s end-use energy and up to 24 percent of the global energy. CHIWDO will work towards establishing safety standards for hydrogen technologies; assess social, economic and technical impacts; and create tools for investment and policy decisions.
“We want to develop technologies to help 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ’s and Canada’s resources become much more environmentally friendly and economically attractive for the world— especially for countries in the Asian Pacific,” says Kumar.
Adds U of A president Bill Flanagan, “unlocking hydrogen’s potential will have a transformative impact on a global scale — and that is the ambitious vision of the U of A. We are at the forefront of hydrogen innovation, and we are leveraging our unique position to take a bold step forward.”
Interviews and b-roll opportunities are available. More information can be found here, including a list of recent hydrogen technology breakthroughs at the U of A.
Media contact: Sarah Vernon | 91ÒùĸÊÓƵ communications associate | svernon@ualberta.ca