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Since 2021, Gazifère teams have been working on a hydrogen project in the Outaouais. What are they up to? Nothing less than recovering a previously wasted local source of energy. We met Francis-Olivier Joncas, our project lead, to explain it to us in more detail.

What prompted Gazifère to proceed with a hydrogen project?

As an energy distributor, Gazifère is well aware of the challenges associated with climate change and wants to be actively involved in transforming our interaction with energy. Mindful of the importance of a sustainable future and social responsibility, we are looking at circular and local energy solutions that meet people’s needs.

We have identified a number of potential energy sources in the Outaouais that, for the large part, are being wasted and could be redirected to reduce GHG emissions. Gazifère’s hydrogen project meets those criteria, which is why we are proud to advance it as a growth engine for the region.

How does this project fit into the circular economy?

The circular economy involves turning trash into treasure. In our case, it consists of recovering unused energy and turning it into usable energy. This could be biogas or heat, while in this case it’s hydrogen produced by ERCO Worldwide’s Buckingham plant. Given that the hydrogen produced by ERCO is a sub-product of its industrial production, of which they only use a portion (the remainder being released into the atmosphere), Gazifère has taken on the task of finding customers, connecting the two, and voilà! The circular economy happens.

What is hydrogen made of?

Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and is found, among other things, in water (H2O), hence the fact that one of its sources of production is by electrolysis (Evolugen & Gazifère are teaming up for this project). Running an electric current through water separates the hydrogen from the oxygen to create hydrogen gas (H2), which is light, odourless and colourless. The hydrogen can then be transported by pipeline or truck to be used in industrial processes, in fuel cells, or injected into the natural gas system.

From the point of view of safety, how does hydrogen compare to other energy sources?

Hydrogen is subject to adapted and appropriate safety procedures. As it does with natural gas, Gazifère will offer hydrogen in a reliable and safe manner, and will ensure that practices are in place to ensure the safety of the public and workers.

What is the impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions?

The hydrogen that Gazifère will deliver is known as “clean hydrogen” because it is produced from renewable electricity and water, which means no GHG emissions.

Hydrogen does not generate any carbon dioxide when it is consumed. By replacing diesel, natural gas or other GHG-producing energies, hydrogen will proportionally reduce emissions.

Who is the project directed at?

The main users targeted by the project are heavy vehicle fueling stations and industrial customers. Gazifère is also running studies on blending hydrogen into the natural gas system. If those studies should prove conclusive, Gazifère will consult with the public to better understand the related issues. It is worth noting that last year, CSA Group announced that mixing 5% hydrogen into natural gas has no impact on appliances running on natural gas.

For a solid understanding of the project, check the dedicated page. We will update it at every step to enable anyone who is interested to follow the project’s progress!