Running from April 22-25, Hydrogen Week focuses on promoting the Edmonton Metro Region’s hydrogen economy. The week is anchored by the Canadian Hydrogen Convention’s (CHC) annual return to the region. As one of the largest hydrogen conferences in North America, CHC attracts people from around the globe to the Edmonton region to attend. Hydrogen Week allows the region to celebrate the innovation and leadership demonstrated through the region’s hydrogen ecosystem.
Hydrogen Week is a coordinated effort to build awareness, drive investment, and amplify the Edmonton region’s leadership in clean energy. Throughout the week, there are a number of activities planned that will shine a spotlight on the Edmonton region’s hydrogen story. From panel discussions on the Edmonton Global stage at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, to investment announcements, to the lighting of the City of Edmonton’s high-level bridge, there’s a lot of activity going on.
The Edmonton region’s hydrogen economy
Hydrogen is a critical tool in the global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; it can power vehicles, decarbonize heavy industry, generate electricity, and act as long term energy storage.
As Canada’s largest producer of hydrogen, the Edmonton region produces over 2.5M pounds of hydrogen every year. Using the province's abundance of natural gas, the Edmonton region uses steam methane reforming, accompanied by carbon capture, to create low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen.
Beyond the Edmonton region’s capacity for hydrogen production, hydrogen represents a unique opportunity for Canada (and the world’s) decarbonization efforts.
The Edmonton region already has a number of projects and initiatives aimed at decarbonizing hard to abate sectors – such as Heidelberg Materials first in the world net-zero facility in the cement industry and the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge.
Both Heidelberg’s Edmonton region facility and the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge are working in industries facing roadblocks to their decarbonization. Heidelberg’s project focuses on the cement industry; a sector that contributes as much as 9% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. Another industry facing decarbonization is heavy-duty, long haul trucking – a key focus for the 5,000 Vehicle Challenge.
Projects underway in the Edmonton region are helping Canada meet its net-zero targets and positioning the country as a key player in the international hydrogen economy.
This is a chance to show how a province long defined by oil is rapidly repositioning itself to lead in the clean energy economy.
Hydrogen Week gives the world a window into the region’s leadership. It shows how regional innovation can shape global energy solutions and underscores why international companies are looking to the Edmonton region to invest, collaborate, and grow.
Why should you celebrate Hydrogen Week this year?
Hydrogen Week is dedicated to promoting and highlighting the Edmonton region’s hydrogen economy and everything our region has to offer global decarbonization efforts; it’s a celebration of clean energy innovation, a call to action, and a showcase of how one region is helping the world move toward net zero.