The Government of Alberta, through Alberta Innovates and Emissions Reduction Alberta, this week announced $57 million in innovation funding for 28 projects.
The massive investment across different projects is designed to advance a hydrogen economy, reduce emissions, and create jobs in Alberta, according to a statement from the government.
“We are funding new, innovative technologies that will ultimately help hydrogen power Alberta’s industries, vehicles, homes and economy in the years ahead,” stated Rebecca Shulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.
The funding includes more than $22M for 20 early-stage projects through the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence Competition, which is partially supported by Natural Resources Canada. Nearly 100 expressions of interest were received.
And on top of that, ERA and the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction program are committing over $34M toward eight late-stage projects through the Accelerating Hydrogen Challenge.
“We are reducing emissions through technologies, not taxes, and creating jobs at the same time,” said Schulz, a possible stab at Canada’s unpopular Carbon Tax.
The 28 projects cover a wide spectrum of the hydrogen economy, from production and distribution to storage and transmission.
“Hydrogen has the potential to transform global energy markets and to create trillions of dollars of economic activity,” believes the province’s minister of technology and innovation, Nate Glubish. “Alberta’s government is committed to investing in new technologies to develop a hydrogen market and to ensure that Alberta is the Hydrogen capital of Canada.”
Successful applicants have 24 to 36 months to complete their work.
“The work we do today will create a foundation, and lay the groundwork, for companies to work with hydrogen,” stated Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease. “That’s not only good for innovators but also for creating a strong Alberta economy.”
Funding recipients include companies such as Ayrton Energy, Ekona Power, and Gradient Thermal, as well as municipalities and institutions such as the Cities of Calgary and Edmonton and the universities of Alberta and Calgary.
“The Government of Alberta’s significant investment in hydrogen is essential for our province to become a major player in the global hydrogen economy,” asserts Justin Riemer, chief executive of ERA. “These projects build on the province’s early successes in the low carbon hydrogen value chain and will not only improve our market presence, but also reduce our emissions.”
Since established in 2009, ERA has committed $937 million toward 267 projects worth $8 billion aimed at reducing emissions.
Powered by $50 million in funding from the Government of Alberta, the Hydrogen Centre of Excellence is a funding program and service facility for hydrogen technology development led by Alberta Innovates.
Alberta Innovates manages 1,300 projects in a portfolio valued at $1.3 billion.
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