FortisBC Energy, Suncor Energy, and Hazer Group Limited on Monday (July 4) revealed a partnership to deploy hydrogen from natural gas production technologies in Port Moody, BC.
The partners have said they plan to use Hazer’s methane pyrolysis technology to produce 2,500 tonnes of hydrogen per year, from Suncor’s Burrard Terminal site, which they believe could replace natural gas usage for approximately 3,300 BC homes.
H2 View understands, the companies intend to store the carbon by-product from the production process as solid synthetic graphite which can be sold for manufacturing or industrial use.
The first phase of the project is said to be underway including front end engineering design (FEED) studies as well as permitting applications. It is hoped a prototype version of the hydrogen reactor will be constructed, ready for testing by the end of 2023.
The project is receiving funding from the partner companies and the BC Government’s CleanBC Fund, which has set out to support projects to advance innovative clean energy solutions.
British Columbia launched its hydrogen strategy in 2021 with hopes adoption of the molecule could help the province achieve its 2050 Net Zero emissions target.
Read more: British Columbia’s Hydrogen Strategy launched for a clean energy future
Geoff Ward, CEO and Managing Director of Hazer, said, “Innovative technologies such as the Hazer Process offer enormous potential to create new economic opportunities while supporting the decarbonisation objectives of FortisBC and the province.
“We are delighted to work with FortisBC, Suncor and the government of BC on this innovative project which will be a world-leading example of the application of methane pyrolysis.”
Bruce Ralston, BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, commented, “Hydrogen is critical to our transition to a cleaner, low-carbon energy system. We are supporting innovation like the Hazer Process with BC Hydrogen Strategy and CleanBC.
“The Hazer Process is helping us achieve our climate goals while supporting good-paying jobs for British Columbians”.
Kris Smith, Executive Vice-President of Downstream for Suncor, added, “Hydrogen has the potential be a significant part of the future energy mix and is a key part of Suncor’s strategy to be a Net Zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions company by 2050.
“We appreciate the BC Government’s support for the development work on this project. And we look forward to continuing to work together on this project that, if sanctioned, will bring low carbon intensity hydrogen supply to the Greater Vancouver Area.”
North American Hydrogen Summit
H2 View is taking its events platform to America’s original clean hydrogen hub of California. Together with the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), we will stage our North American Hydrogen Summit in San Francisco on July 14-15.
As our summit theme Building Bridges: Hydrogen hubs and investment suggests, the event will explore the $8bn of funding announced to create at least four regional hydrogen hubs in the US. These hubs will turbo-charge the nation’s progress toward heavy trucking and industrial sectors that run without producing carbon pollution – and they may just provide the path forward to a hydrogen-fuelled future.
With California and Texas vying to be America’s hydrogen capital today, where are the hubs of tomorrow? Further still, what can other states, and countries, learn from California’s success story? And how can we build bridges to a successful flow of international investment?
If you are a member of the CaFCP, be sure to grab your ticket at a discounted rate with a code that can be provided to you by the events team.
Full information about this event including attendance and sponsorship packages can be found here.