The Canadian Government has backed HTEC’s plans to develop a 15-tonne per day hydrogen liquefier facility in British Columbia.
On March 19, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, Anita Anand, announced a $49m investment in HTEC through the Strategic Innovation Fund to support the company’s $472m project.
The project is being developed under HTEC’s H2 Gateway programme, and it will capture and liquefy 15 tonnes per day of industrial by-product hydrogen in North Vancouver, turning waste into clean fuel.
The H2 Gateway programme plans the development of up to 20 hydrogen refuelling stations, three hydrogen production facilities and a fleet of 100 hydrogen heavy-duty fuel cell electric (FCEV) trucks.
HTEC has stated the North Vancouver project will be “the first full value chain ecosystem for heavy-duty FVEV trucks in Canada.”
Colin Armstrong, President and CEO of HTEC, said the government’s investment “validates our vision for a robust, low-carbon hydrogen ecosystem and accelerates the transformation of Canada’s heavy-duty transportation sector.”
However, liquefying hydrogen is challenging because it requires a lot of energy, extremely low temperatures, special equipment and it can lead to fuel loss and safety risks.
Nevertheless, liquid hydrogen is already being used in trucks around the world. Last year, Ineos Inovyn and Daimler Truck launched year-long customer trials of Mercedes-Benz GenH2 trucks powered by liquid hydrogen.
