Niagara Falls tapped for green-hydrogen production facility
An Ontario Power Generation (OPG) subsidiary is planning to build a green-hydrogen production facility in Niagara Falls.
Atrua Power announced its plan on April 7.
The proposal calls for construction of the Niagara Hydrogen Centre, a facility that will host a 20-megawatt electrolyzer that will produce green hydrogen.
The news was part of the release of the province’s hydrogen strategy. Energy Minister Todd Smith and Environment Minister David Piccini specifically highlighted Atura Power’s green hydrogen project.
The province is supporting the project by providing an exemption from the Gross Revenue Charge from 2024 to 2033 for electricity generated at the Sir Adam Beck Generating Station used specifically for hydrogen production under prescribed conditions.
“Through our hydrogen strategy, we are leveraging our province’s world-class talent and clean energy advantage as we position Ontario as a world leader in hydrogen,” said Smith. “When energy is clean, reliable and affordable, our whole province benefits. I look forward to working with all our partners to build critical infrastructure for the industries of the future including new hydrogen production projects that will create good paying jobs, grow our economy and reduce emissions.”
Green hydrogen is produced with electrolyzers using water and electricity as inputs. Electrolysis is the process of breaking water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen molecules using electricity.
Green and low-carbon hydrogen can reduce or offset emissions in a variety of applications, including: blending hydrogen with natural gas to reduce its carbon impact, and powering fuel cells in vehicles, which could help replace diesel engines in the heavy-duty and long-haul trucking industry.
“Ontario is building a hydrogen economy, and Atura Power is ready to play a key role in helping establish a supply of this low carbon fuel,” said president Chris Fralick. “The supply of hydrogen produced by Atura Power will enable heavy emitting industries and transport to plan their transition to lower carbon fuels. We look forward to working with our partners and industry leaders to help advance this clean technology, bringing the Niagara region to the forefront of the clean energy and hydrogen economy.”
Atura Power is completing preliminary steps for this electrolyzer facility to support a final investment decision by summer 2022. Pending an award of federal funding, the facility could be commissioned as soon as early 2024.
Atura Power is evaluating additional sites in Ontario for green and low-carbon hydrogen production, including Halton Hills, Windsor, Lambton-Sarnia and Nanticoke.