British Columbia Investing in Hydrogen Hub on Highway 16
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Canada’s British Columbia will grant $108,000 to develop a regional hydrogen hub to support business development along its western Highway 16 freight corridor from central Prince George to the Pacific Coast.
The funding is being provided by the province’s Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) to create a key hydrogen hub backed by the government to harness regional resources, expand jobs and accelerate green energy use.
Harjit Sajjan, minister of both PacifiCan and Emergency Preparedness, announced the regional hydrogen hub July 17 and its future location in Prince George since the city is strategically positioned to major highways, rail transportation and an international airport.
“The City of Prince George is dedicated to pioneering solutions that mitigate climate impacts and advance regional prosperity,” Sajjan said. “By collaborating with local stakeholders and leveraging its strategic transportation infrastructure, the city is well positioned to lead the way in sustainable energy innovation and create lasting benefits for communities throughout Central and Northern B.C.”
Sajjan
Prince George Mayor Simon Yu called the project transformative because it will link regional hydrogen supply and demand, foster economic growth by creating jobs in construction, operations, and maintain hydrogen facilities and infrastructure.
“This forward-thinking endeavor not only supports local industries but also positions Northern British Columbia at the forefront of clean energy innovation and sustainability,” Yu noted.
PacifiCan funding will help the city identify local hydrogen assets, attract investment for low-carbon ventures and support regional research and community engagement.
In addition, the new hydrogen hub will support the Canadian government’s strategy to have 30% of the nation’s end-use energy derive from hydrogen by 2050 and lower greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.
On May 31, nearly $7.2 million in PacifiCan funding was awarded to two initiatives led by Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, including the first Canadian academic-industry clean hydrogen energy project of its kind.
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Over $6.7 million will be used to establish a new Clean Hydrogen Hub at the university. This project will also receive $720,000 from the province’s independent nonprofit Centre for Innovation and Clean Energy, nearly $1.7 million from Simon Fraser University and $720,000 from the city of Burnaby.
Joy Johnson, university president and vice chancellor, stated at that time: “As a leading research university and trusted innovation partner, SFU is engaging in global challenges to make a difference for B.C. and Canada. I am excited that funding provided for the Clean Hydrogen Hub and VentureLabs [a hardware/software firm] will help us advance innovation in B.C. and meet local, provincial and national climate goals while developing the scientific and industry expertise needed to build a thriving Canadian hydrogen sector.”
