Hydrogen Industry Support
IT IS THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT Alberta Municipalities advocates to the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada increase their commitment to support and resource the current hydrogen initiatives in all of Alberta to assist Alberta and its innovative energy industry partners to become leaders in the developing hydrogen economy.
WHEREAS the energy industry is critical to Alberta’s, Canada’s, and the world’s future and economic prosperity;
WHEREAS Alberta, its municipalities, and its citizens are committed to Alberta’s economic recovery through economic diversification that will include being a safe and reliable supplier of energy worldwide;
WHEREAS Alberta, its municipalities, and its citizens are committed to working with energy industry leaders taking action to address the global climate crisis;
WHEREAS hydrogen is a zero-emission fuel that will further diversify Alberta’s energy sector, enhance our economic competitiveness in a changing energy market and be an essential component of the new clean energy system as the world shifts towards its low carbon future;
WHEREAS Alberta is Canada’s largest petrochemical processing area with significant current and future investments in hydrogen production and critical to any Federal commitments;
WHEREAS Alberta and Alberta municipalities have taken tangible steps through investment in hydrogen initiatives to be leaders in this sector; and
WHEREAS Alberta is home to researchers and innovators in industry and within post-secondary institutions providing the ecosystem for success.
On August 23, 2022, the Prime Minister of Canada, following meetings with the Chancellor of Germany, announced the countries signed a joint declaration of intent to establish a Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance. The proposed Alliance would help establish a TransAtlantic Canada-Germany supply corridor, with the target of beginning export by 2025. There was little comment, or commitment, on Alberta’s role in this important and newly developing hydrogen economy.
It is imperative that Alberta Municipalities and Alberta act immediately and decisively to ensure that Alberta and its established hydrogen initiatives are able to take advantage of this market. Significant advocacy work is needed to ensure that the cross-Canada infrastructure needed to link Alberta resources to this new market opportunity are in place. Canada’s commitment cannot be met without Alberta and Western Canada’s resources.
Stable and reliable energy markets have never been more critical. The vulnerability of the global energy markets has been highlighted since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Alberta must act on its competitive advantage to secure its position in the global hydrogen market.
Alberta has the feedstock, supply chains, experience and is laying the foundation to capitalize on both. The development of Alberta’s hydrogen industry is actively supported by numerous organizations around the province. At the forefront of energy innovation are Alberta’s energy industry leaders.
Some of the lowest cost hydrogen production costs in the world are found in Alberta.
It is time that the advantages of Alberta are capitalized on with all orders of government, and their organizations, post-secondary institutions, and industry to ensure the opportunity of this generation, to be the world’s safe, most efficient and effective supplier of hydrogen, is not lost.
With the abundance of work being done in hydrogen development sphere, the Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada must facilitate the partnerships and communication that is needed to realize the potential of hydrogen and position this province to diversify the energy sector immediately for the short, medium and long-term prosperity of this province.
Alberta Municipalities forwarded this resolution to the Government of Alberta. In his response, the Minister of Energy indicates that he is pleased to see municipalities taking an interest in the opportunity hydrogen presents.
He summarized the provinces’ hydrogen roadmap which was released in November, 2021 including some of the actions being taken to implement the roadmap and some of the projects the province is supporting financially.
He ends with a commitment to position Alberta as a world leader in the field and to continue pursuing actions to make that so.
ABmunis Economic Strategy Committee will review the the Minister's full response and make a recommendation to the ABmunis Board regarding further advocacy efforts.