An electrolyzer which is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen is to be built in Nanaimo, part of a B.C.-wide hydrogen fuel project. (Dreamstime)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

new tech

New hydrogen fuel cell electrolyzer to be built in Nanaimo

May 24, 2024 | 12:27 PM

NANAIMO — A new hydrogen supply facility is coming to the Harbour City.

The province announced on Friday, May 24, three new electrolyzers will be built in Nanaimo, Burnaby and Prince George to help supply upwards of 20 hydrogen refuelling stations for vehicles which can be powered off the element.

An electrolyzer uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and it’s believed the three stations will help support a North Vancouver facility which liquefies upwards of 15 tonnes of hydrogen per day.

“Producing clean fuels like hydrogen right here in B.C. to replace diesel use for transportation helps to reduce harmful pollution while creating new jobs and opportunities in the clean economy,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation.

Part of the H2 Gateway project, around 280 full-time jobs are expected to build and operate the facilities and related infrastructure.

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The project is hoped to reduce carbon emissions from transportation by around 133,000 tonnes annually.

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are increasing in popularity, with relatively long distances possible on a single fuel up but unlike electric, can fuel up in a shorter time.

The total cost for the entire H2 project is estimated to be $900 million.

Provincial government money is funding a portion of it, with the Canada Infrastructure Bank providing a $337 million loan to HTEC, who will build and manage the systems.

“The initiative agreements that we have under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard are integral to the success of our fuelling network in B.C., which includes hydrogen production facilities and fuelling stations,” Colin Armstrong, HTEC president and CEO, said.

Roughly half of Canada’s hydrogen and fuel-cell companies are located in B.C., with the province also accounting for nearly two-thirds of Canada’s research investment into the technology.

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