Alberta has long been known as one of North America’s main energy suppliers, but that was primarily because of oil and gas. While oil and gas aren’t going away anytime soon, the province could soon be known for its clean energy sector as well!
Hydrogen energy has been steadily growing in Alberta and a new $161 million investment to Pennsylvania-based company Air Products. The Alberta investment comes from the Alberta Petrochemical inventive Program, and that’s on top of a $300 million federal government investment through its Strategic Innovation Fund’s Net Zero Accelerator Initiative.
“Alberta is Canada’s hydrogen powerhouse and projects like this will create jobs, diversify the economy and build additional clean energy capacity for use across Western Canada. Alberta’s economy will continue to charge ahead full steam with an investment climate that encourages businesses to grow and fuel job growth,” said Premier Danielle Smith.
Alberta’s job growth has been steadily rising, and this new facility is expected to create even more, with 2500 construction jobs and 30 permanent jobs once the facility is operational.
The investments into hydrogen could pay off in a big way for Alberta in the long run, as the hydrogen industry is expected to be a $2.5 - $11 trillion global industry by 2050. Not only is Alberta currently leading Canada in hydrogen production, the province also has recent research suggesting it could produce some of the lowest cost clean hydrogen in the world.
This new Air Products facility will be built northeast of Edmonton, and it adds to the growing number of hydrogen energy plants on the way to Alberta, including one in Wheatland County The future looks bright for green energy in Wheatland County. This new facility is scheduled to be completed in 2024 and is expected to produce more than 165 million standard cubic feet of hydrogen per day.
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Thu, Apr 25, 4:30 PM
