Sask. government ramps up development on potential hydrogen hub
The Saskatchewan government has begun work on a foundation report study ramping up development on a potential hydrogen hub in the Regina-Moose Jaw region.
The Ministry of Energy and Resources, Whitecap Resources and Federated Co-operatives Limited (FCL) will support the study, developed by the Transition Accelerator and the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC).
The report will provide investors with an analysis of commercial-scale hydrogen opportunities and synergies with carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) infrastructure in the province.
"We're a world leader in CCUS and enhanced oil recovery, which has natural connections to blue hydrogen," Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in a release.
"We expect this report to accelerate the private sector's interest in Saskatchewan's emerging hydrogen economy."
These “blue hydrogen” projects the province is eyeing are enabled using CCUS technology.
The release states that the hydrogen market is expanding globally with increasing use in power generation, transportation fuel and feedstock in the chemical industry.
Whitecap Resources and FCL signed a memorandum of understanding to explore opportunities around CCUS, enhanced oil recovery and CO2 transportation infrastructure in October, 2021.
Blue hydrogen captures, stores and reuses CO2 produced in existing industrial processes, such as refineries, and potash and fertilizer facilities.
“With blue hydrogen, we feel if we can capture the CO2 which would otherwise be emitted and use it for something, for example, enhanced oil recovery, that makes the most sense because enhanced oil recovery has a great economic footprint as well as a great environmental footprint,” said Eyre at the announcement.
FCL said hydrogen production is required for what they are currently doing at the core refinery, as well as in the future as they begin to produce renewable diesel at the Integrated Agricultural Complex set to be built in the city.
"The potential for a Hydrogen and CCUS Hub in Saskatchewan is exciting as it would create new opportunities for local industry right here in Saskatchewan," Federated Co-operatives Limited CEO Heather Ryan said. "We know that CCUS will play a prominent role in the future of transportation fuels. The research we are investing in will identify the role that hydrogen production will play in the transition to a low carbon economy.”
FCL added, supporting this project is a step towards their plans to decarbonize and reach their goal of being net-neutral by 2050.
According to Whitecap, these projects will be the first in Saskatchewan to utilize blue hydrogen.
In Sept. 2021, the province announced several new policy commitments to advance CCUS projects, including the opportunity for an infrastructure hub in the Regina-Moose Jaw corridor.
“This CCUS infrastructure will also enable businesses such as potash, fertilizer, steel, renewable fuels, thermal power, heavy transport, municipal transportation and more to reduce their carbon intensity by directly capturing CO2 emissions,” said Adlai Majer, director of new energy at Whitecap.
The province said a hydrogen/CCUS hub in the region could allow for the development of an entire, commercial-scale hydrogen supply and demand chain in Saskatchewan.
The Transition Accelerator (TA) launched Canada’s first two hydrogen hubs in Edmonton’s Industrial Heartland Region and in the southeastern Alberta region. TA is a pan-Canadian charity that, “creates positive, transformational system changes that solve societal challenges while moving Canada to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
The ministry is supporting the TA in carrying out a foundation with a grant of $100,000, boosted by an additional $50,000 in funding provided by Whitecap Resources and FCL.
The report will be completed within the year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.