 Canada
INTRODUCTION
Canada has been involved in the development of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for over two decades. Canada is well positioned to be a leading developer and adopter of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies for two main reasons. Firstly, Canada is the largest per capita producer of hydrogen in the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), producing approximately 3 million tonnes annually. Secondly, Canada is a world leader in the development of fuel cell technologies and hydrogen infrastructure.
The hydrogen and fuel cell sector in Canada is characterized by highly innovative smaller companies which are investing heavily in R&D to commercialize technology. The largest cluster of hydrogen and fuel cell companies in Canada is located in Vancouver, BC. Other clusters are located in Toronto, ON; Montreal, QC; and Calgary, AB. The sector supports a well-educated labour force with advanced skills – key ingredients in building Canada’s knowledge economy.
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Canada’s program targets four areas area sustainable hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, fuel cells and safety, codes and standards.
Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen ’s value as an energy carrier stems from the wide base of primary energy sources which can be employed to produce it. These include both renewable sources such as hydro, wind, solar and biomass, and non-renewable sources such as natural gas, coal and nuclear energy.
Historically, Canada’s main thrust of past investments has been in hydrogen production via water electrolysis with special emphasis on systems for hydrogen production from wind. A considerable amount of R&D was carried out to address hydrogen production from low-value materials such as hydrogen sulphide and from coal or petroleum coke via the steam/iron process (a technology for centralized hydrogen production allowing easier carbon capture). Smaller program elements included purification and separation. Activities have steered away from technologies which are being developed extensively in other countries and for which there was not a unique Canadian capability. Going forward, Canada’s activities in the short term will focus almost exclusively on electrolytic hydrogen production using PEM technology.
Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen storage is a key enabling technology for the deployment of fuel cell technologies in stationary, portable, and transportation applications. The challenge for most end-uses is reversible, lower cost hydrogen storage systems with high volumetric and gravimetric hydrogen storage capacities. For transportation, the overarching technical challenge for hydrogen storage is how to store hydrogen on-board to meet performance (weight, volume, kinetics, etc.) safety and cost requirements and enable 300-mile range, without compromising passenger/cargo space. Durability over the performance lifetime of these systems must also be verified and validated, and acceptable refueling times must be achieved.
Canada’s past investments have been in development of both compressed hydrogen storage systems and of solid hydrogen storage systems
Going forward, Canada will focus on solid hydrogen storage and will concentrate on applications for back-up and portable power where there is expertise and commercial applicability in Canada.
Fuel Cells
Canada has been developing fuel cell technologies for transportation, stationary, and portable applications. For transportation, small-scale stationary power generation (e.g., back-up power), and portable devices, the focus is on proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells. For larger-scale energy generation, the focus is on the solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), which can, in some cases, directly use natural gas or other hydrocarbons as fuels.
Codes, Standards and Safety
The successful global commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cells depends on internationally accepted codes and standards. These will help to increase the experience, knowledge and confidence of local, regional, and national officials in the use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies, and facilitate the development of regulations. R&D supports the development of performance-based, rather than product-specific, codes and standards.
International collaboration in this area is essential. Canada has played a leading role as chair of the ISO Technical Committee 197 (Hydrogen Technologies) and as a strong contributor to the IEA Hydrogen Implementing Agreement Task 19. Task 19 participants have been working to identify the physical properties of hydrogen which impact the issue of safety.
Canada has also developed the Canadian Hydrogen Installation Code. Published by the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (BNQ) as a National Standard of Canada, the Canadian Hydrogen Installation Code (CHIC) [CAN/BNQ 1784-000] will help pave the way for a greater use of hydrogen as an energy carrier by guiding safe design and facilitating the approval process of hydrogen installations across Canada.
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HIGHLIGHTS
The following are examples of significant accomplishments that are helping to build Canada’s hydrogen and fuel cell industry. Demonstration projects in Canada and other IPHE partner countries are featured at www.iphe.net/DemonstrationMap.html.
Canadian Fuel Cell Commercialization Roadmap
In 2003, Canada released its first commercialization roadmap. The roadmap was aimed at accelerating full-scale commercialization of Canadian hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to capture benefits from substantial industrial investments in research and development and to develop long-term solutions to meet Canada’s climate change goals. In 2008, Canada updated the Canadian Fuel Cell Commercialization Roadmap. The update begins by outlining why hydrogen and fuel cells are considered an essential part of the future low carbon energy systems for transportation and stationary power as well as an energy innovation in portable electronics. It continues by providing an overview of global hydrogen and fuel cell markets as background and context for the activities of the Canadian industry.
Hydrogen Village
The Hydrogen Village in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) is a public/private partnership demonstrating and deploying various hydrogen production and delivery techniques as well as fuel cells for stationary, transportation (mobile) and portable applications. The program, funded by Hydrogen Village Members, Natural Resources Canada and the Government of Ontario, has been in operation since April 2004.
 Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program
The Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program is a collaborative five year vehicle deployment and evaluation activity involving the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, Ford Motor Company USA, Ford Motor Company of Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the Government of Canada. The program, for the first time, put limited production fuel-cell-powered electric drive vehicles into the hands of selected Canadian users for independent operation andevaluation under real-world conditions. Located in the British Columbia’s lowermainland, the vehicle testing began in April 2005 and is expected to end March 2010. Vehicle users have included AutomotiveFuel Cell Cooperation,Ballard Power Systems, BC Hydro, BC Transit, BrownBros. Ford, Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association, City of Vancouver and Powertech Labs.
Hydrogen Highway
The British Columbia Hydrogen Highway (HH), launched in March 2004, is a large-scale, coordinated demonstration and deployment program for mobile, stationary, portable, and micro hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Projects under the HH umbrella include the Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project located in North Vancouver, BC Transit operated hydrogen fuelling station in Victoria, Powertech Labs station in Surrey, Pacific Spirit Station in Vancouver, and the Whistler station under development to support the 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses to be operated by BC Transit during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games.
The HH received one of the first "Sustainability Stars" recognizing sustainability innovations in economic, social and environmental initiatives awarded by the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics Winter Games.
Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Gateway
In early 2008, a technology demonstration and exhibit centre showcasing Canada's world-leading hydrogen and fuel cell industry was officially opened. The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Gateway is located at the National Research Council (NRC) Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation in Vancouver, and was conceived through a public-private partnership between the NRC, Natural Resources Canada, Industry Canada, the Government of British Columbia and the Canadian Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Association.
2010 Olympics – First Bus Delivered as part of World’s Largest Development of Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses
The first of 20 buses were delivered and successfully tested as part of the world largest hybrid electric fuel cell bus fleet. The bus is part of BC Transit’s project to demonstrate sustainable transportation technologies for the 2010 Olympics in Whistler, B.C. Twenty new hybrid electric fuel cell buses and two Hydrogen Highway fuelling stations are planned for regular service by fall of 2010 in Whistler, Vancouver and Victoria. The low-floor buses will have a range of
500 km, a top speed of 90 km/h and a life expectancy of 20 years. They are the sixth generation of a fuel cell bus developed in Canada. Several Canadian companies are involved in this project such as Ballard Power Systems, Dynetek Industries, Hydrogenics Corporation, New Flyer Industries, Questair Technologies, Air Liquide Canada, and Sacre-Davey Engineering.
Establishment of AFCC Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation Corporation
AFCC Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation Corporation (AFCC) is a private Vancouver-based automotive fuel cell technology company founded in 2008 and owned 50.1% by Daimler AG, 30% by Ford Motor Company and 19.9% by Ballard Power Systems. AFCC was created to focus on fuel cell research, development and design specifically for automotive applications. AFCC will work closely with Daimler and Ford to advance automotive fuel cell technology.
National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research Directory
The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Research Directory is a free public on-line database of information on researchers and facilities in Canada. The purpose of the Research Directory is to increase the visibility, researcher collaboration and use of Canadian research and laboratory services in hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
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WEBSITES
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MEMBER STATEMENTS
- Canadian Statement (PDF 575KB); ILC/SC Joint Meeting; Washington, DC; 1-3 December 2009
- Canadian Statement (PDF 295KB); Steering Committee Meeting
Reykjavik, Iceland; 26-27 September 2006
- Canadian Statement (PDF 1.04MB); Steering Committee Meeting; Kyoto, Japan; 14-15 September 2005
- Canadian Statement; ILC Committee Meeting; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Canadian Statement (PDF 343KB); Steering Committee; Paris, France; 26-28 January 2005
- Canadian Statement (PDF 616KB); Steering Committee; Beijing, China; 26-28 May 2004
- Canadian Statement (PDF 10KB); ILC Meeting; Reisensburg, Germany; 26 February 2004
- Ministerial Statement (PDF 70KB); IPHE Inaugural Ministerial Meeting; Washington, D.C.; 20 Nov 2003
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