Air Products has announced its intention to construct a network of permanent, commercial-scale multi-modal hydrogen refueling stations connecting Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This initiative aligns with Canada’s climate and energy goals, as well as the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge.
“With abundant resources, tremendous talent, and forward-thinking governments, Canada is driving the clean energy transition forward,” said Seifi Ghasemi, Air Products’ Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, announcing the new development. “Last year, Air Products announced continued investment in Western Canada with the first permanent, commercial-scale Hydrogen refueling station in Alberta. Today, we build on that commitment with plans to build additional commercial-scale multi-modal hydrogen refueling stations, developing a hydrogen highway connecting Alberta’s two largest cities and enabling the continued development of the region’s hydrogen ecosystem.”
The multi-modal hydrogen refueling stations will cater to heavy-duty vehicles, such as commercial trucks and buses, as well as light-duty hydrogen fuel cell cars. Situated along the Queen Elizabeth II Highway, they aim to provide a fueling experience and speed comparable to diesel, supporting Western Canada’s goal of having 5,000 hydrogen or dual fuel vehicles on the road within five years.
“Each of our state-of-the-art, high-capacity, high-reliability stations will be able to fuel up to 200 heavy-duty trucks or 2,000 cars per day,” noted Rachel Smith, vice president and general manager, Air Products Canada. “In Canada, hydrogen is essential to decarbonising transportation where heavy-duty vehicles travel long distances in extreme temperatures. We are excited to be activating Canada’s first hydrogen corridor here in Alberta.”
The first permanent hydrogen refueling station, scheduled to be operational in Edmonton by 2025, will be located near Air Products’ net-zero hydrogen energy complex currently under construction. The project has received partial funding of $1 million (CAD) from Natural Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program.
“The development and deployment of hydrogen presents an enormous economic and environmental opportunity for Canadians,” added Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Canada. ”The federal government is prepared to seize this opportunity, and today’s announcement by Air Products shows that Canadian companies and innovators are also continuing to lead the way on hydrogen. I congratulate Air Products on today’s exciting announcement. Together, we will continue to establish Canada as a leading producer and supplier of hydrogen on our path to net-zero by 2050.”
In addition to the announced stations, Air Products currently operates hydrogen production facilities and a hydrogen pipeline network in Alberta, as well as a liquefaction facility in Sarnia, Ontario. The company is building a net-zero hydrogen energy complex in Edmonton, incorporating advanced process technology for carbon capture and sequestration. This complex will support the production and distribution of emission-free hydrogen across Western Canada, furthering the region’s transition towards sustainable energy solutions.
