The federal government has selected about 60 projects to receive up to $800 million in funding under the $1.5-billion Clean Fuels Fund (CFF), including production facilities and feasibility and front-end engineering and design studies in seven jurisdictions, involving five different fuel types.
“Today’s significant investments will bolster Canadian competitiveness in the clean fuels space at a time of rising global demand,” Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson stated in a news release. “These projects help create sustainable jobs and grow the economy, all while lowering emissions and protecting the environment.”
Negotiations are underway to finalize the terms of funding for each project.
The Clean Fuels Fund launched in June 2021 with a goal of investing $1.5 billion to grow domestic production of clean fuels such as hydrogen, renewable diesel and natural gas, cellulosic ethanol, synthetic fuels and sustainable aviation fuel.
A second round of projects from last year’s call for proposal, is currently being reviewed, and funding decisions are expected in December.
Canada’s clean fuels industry is rapidly growing, pushed by the global demand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bolster energy security.
More than $8.8 million announced by Wilkinon will go to six organizations for 10 hydrogen and natural gas refuelling stations. Federal funding for these projects was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) and the Electric Vehicle and Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Deployment (EVAFIDI).
The announcement is one of a series of significant steps the government continues to take to support sustainable jobs and protect the environment. Minister Wilkinson will continue to work with all partners to establish Canada as the global supplier of choice for clean energy in a net-zero world — ensuring a prosperous and clean future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
“Expanding the hydrogen refuelling station network is critical for the widespread adoption of hydrogen electric transportation,” said Colin Armstrong, president and CEO, HTEC. “As the first company that built this network in Canada, we know that scaling up requires immense support from both the government and industry.
“This funding support will meaningfully advance our work toward opening many more stations across the province and building the team needed to deliver hydrogen solutions.”
Launched in June 2021, the Clean Fuels Fund earmarked $1.5 billion to grow the production of clean fuels in Canada, such as hydrogen, renewable diesel and natural gas, cellulosic ethanol, synthetic fuels and sustainable aviation fuel.
The funding under ZEVIP and EVAFIDI includes:
- $3 million to HTEC to install three hydrogen refuelling stations in British Columbia
- Over, $2.2 million to FortisBC Energy Inc. to build three natural gas refuelling stations in Delta, Kelowna and Abbotsford, British Columbia
- $1 million to the University of British Columbia to install one hydrogen refuelling station in Vancouver, British Columbia
- $1 million to Carlsun Energy Solutions Inc. to build one hydrogen station in Ontario
- $1 million to Tomlinson Environmental Services Ltd. to install one natural gas refuelling station in Ottawa, Ontario
- $647,000 to the County of Vermilion River to build one natural gas refuelling station in Kitscoty, Alberta
Transportation accounts for 25 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions in Canada.