Canada Allots $8MM for SMR, Clean Hydrogen Research

Nine energy technology projects have received CAD$11 million in government funding in Canada. As the country aims to get as close to zero-emissions, this project reveals their commitment to making this a reality. The Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson praised the project and pledged his support to it as well as other initiatives that will position Canada as world leaders in hydrogen. 

The government of Canada is providing $8 million (CAD 11 million) in funding for nine energy technology projects: $1.82 million (CAD 2.5 million) for small modular reactor (SMR) research and $6.18 million (CAD 8.5 million) for clean hydrogen innovation.

How the funds will be distributed

The government said in a news release that, of the allotted funds, $3.64 million (CAD 5 million) will be allocated to three projects in Alberta selected through the Energy Innovation Program’s (EIP) Clean Fuels and Industrial Fuel Switching call for proposals.

According to the release, $2.18 million (CAD 3 million) will be assigned to Aurora Hydrogen Inc. to advance the use of microwave energy for pyrolysis technology to convert methane to hydrogen and solid carbon with minimal greenhouse gas emissions and no water use.

Further, $0.73 million (CAD 1 million) will go to Quantiam Technologies for the production of carbon-negative methanol and e-fuels from captured carbon dioxide and green hydrogen, while another $0.73 million (CAD 1 million) will go to Innova Hydrogen Corp for zero-carbon hydrogen production via catalytic methane pyrolysis.

The remaining four projects, also in Alberta, are funded through the EIP

The remaining four projects, also in Alberta, are funded through the EIP and support the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence, a strategic initiative led by Alberta Innovates. They include a project of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd., in partnership with Qualico, to conduct a feasibility assessment of a pure hydrogen pipeline network to heat new homes in the community of Bremner in Strathcona County, Alberta.

Also to be funded is a project of Innovative Fuel Systems to reduce emissions from heavy-duty vehicles by developing a hydrogen and diesel dual-fuel retrofit system applicable to 90 percent of heavy-duty engines.

Receiving funding as well is another project of ATCO Gas and Pipelines Ltd. to develop the Fort Saskatchewan Operating Centre into the first commercial 100-percent hydrogen-heated building in North America and as a demonstration site for end-user heating technologies that utilize pure and blended hydrogen with natural gas.

Finally, funding will be allotted to a project of New Wave Hydrogen Inc. to accelerate the time of methane thermal cracking for hydrogen production via shock wave heating technology in preparation for successive field pilots.

Support from Government and business leaders

“This week’s announcements are part of a series of significant steps the Government of Canada continues to take to support good jobs and promote sustainable growth, including the launch of the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada Progress Report, Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy and Canada’s founding of the Sustainable Critical Minerals Alliance last fall,” Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson said. “I will continue to work with all partners to ensure Canada remains a global supplier of choice for clean energy in a net-zero world — ensuring a prosperous and clean future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast”.

“New Wave Hydrogen is honoured to be a part of the Canadian clean energy transition. The vision and benefits of these funding programs offer vital support to emerging companies. This funding stimulates growth, not just for the New Wave technology — it extends to support Canada’s innovation ecosystem and networked growth through engineering, manufacturing and clean energy sectors,” New Wave Hydrogen CEO Kathleen O’Neil said.

According to the release, interest in low-carbon hydrogen in Canada has increased significantly since 2020, with over 80 low-carbon hydrogen production projects announced, representing over five million metric tons of hydrogen production.

Further, there are now 13 low-carbon hydrogen production facilities in operation across Canada, able to produce over 3,000 metric tons of low-carbon hydrogen per year.