Project Descriptions

Hydrogen Village

Located in the Greater Toronto Area, the Hydrogen Village is a public/private partnership developed to accelerate and sustain the application and commercialization of hydrogen and fuel cell products and services.  Various hydrogen production, storage and delivery techniques will be deployed and demonstrated, as well as applications of hydrogen such as fuel cells for fuelling stations, transportation and portable applications.  The Hydrogen Village is planned as a template for other municipalities and regions - both in Canada and around the world - that are committed to the development of a hydrogen and fuel cell infrastructure.  The CTFCA is providing funding for the Hydrogen Village Project Coordinator and additional operating costs.

Total project cost: $831,230. 
CTFCA contribution: $547,173.

Pacific Spirit Station

A hydrogen fuelling station has been built at the National Research Council (NRC) facility in Vancouver.  The Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program and the Hydrogen Highway™  in British Columbia will both use the station for fuelling.  The station consists of a hydrogen storage and dispensing system supplied by General Hydrogen of Richmond, British Columbia, that will be fitted to existing hydrogen supply systems at the NRC.  The integration and commissioning of the complete system will be conducted by BOC Canada.

General Hydrogen Storage and Dispensing System

Total Project Cost: $1,891,900. 
CTFCA contribution: $945,900.

BOC Integration

Total Project Cost: $970,501. 
CTFCA contribution: $554,250. 

New Energy Resources Alliance:
Study of small-scale hydrogen production options in Alberta

The New Energy Resources Alliance's study aims to understand the technical and economic factors that would drive technology selection for small-scale hydrogen production in Alberta.  Local availability of high purity hydrogen is required for the deployment of clean energy technologies such as hydrogen-powered vehicles and low-temperature fuel cell technologies. While there is considerable large-scale production of hydrogen in Alberta, there is currently no small-scale hydrogen production or distribution. This study is the first to address these issues and is a necessary pre-condition to the deployment of hydrogen technologies in Alberta.

Total Project Cost: $43,800. 
CTFCA contribution: $8,000.

Methanex Corporation:
Project scoping for the Hydrogen Highway™ Whistler node

Methanex Corporation produced a preliminary equipment plan, overall project cost estimate and a project execution schedule for a Hydrogen Highway™ node in Whistler.  This detailed document will form the basis
of discussions with Whistler for project acceptance, and with government agencies responsible for funding hydrogen initiatives.

Total Project Cost: $54,820.
CTFCA contribution: $27,410.

Hydrogenics Corporation:
HyLYZER hydrogen refuelling station

Hydrogenics' hydrogen refuelling station is part of a multi-phase project leading to the commercialization of fuel cell powered forklifts. Unveiled in February 2005 at GM in Oshawa, the indoor hydrogen fuelling station can produce up to 65 kilograms of hydrogen per day, and  refuel a forklift in a fraction of the time that it would take to change or charge the batteries for a  battery-powered unit.

Total Project Cost: $1,325,000. 
CTFCA contribution: $391,000.

Dynetek Industries Ltd.:
Advanced hydrogen storage technology

On-board hydrogen storage is one of the obstacles to the commercialization of fuel-cell vehicles. Dynetek Industries is developing a 10,000-psi hydrogen valve that will enhance on-board fuel and, in turn, enhance vehicle range and reduce system costs. The 10,000-psi system builds on a previous CTFCA-supported project to develop and certify a 5,000-psi hydrogen valve and regulator solutions. This 5,000-psi valve will be redesigned to fit the 10,000-psi system, which will be developed, evaluated and tested by August 2005.

Total project cost: $3 million.
CTFCA contribution: $1.5 million, matched by Dynetek.

Fueling Technologies Inc.:
Development of a 700-bar hydrogen dispenser

With support from the CTFCA, Fueling Technologies Inc. has delivered a 10,000-psi (700-bar) hydrogen dispenser to Powertech Labs. Currently, the vast majority of hydrogen dispensing systems operate at approximately 5,000 psi (350 bar) pressure. Moving to 10,000 psi (700 bar) will permit fuel-cell vehicles with 10,000-psi storage tanks to operate over greater ranges between fuelling. The project is part of Powertech's Compressed Hydrogen Infrastructure Program (CH₂IP).

Total project cost: $249,000.
CTFCA contribution: $124,000, matched by Fueling Technologies Inc.

Hydrogenics Corporation:
Hydrogen refuelling apparatus for a natural gas reformer; development of Hydrogenics' electrolysis technology in a mobile hydrogen fuelling station.

The CTFCA has supported two projects which will help further develop hydrogen fueling systems. The first project entailed the development of a hydrogen refuelling apparatus for a natural-gas reformer for Hydrogenics' 50-kilowatt stationary fuel-cell power generator. The reformer generates hydrogen for both fuel-cell vehicles and stationary power generators. Funding for the second project helped to develop Hydrogenics' proprietary electrolysis technology in a mobile hydrogen fuelling station. The station was unveiled in August 2004 at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto, Ontario. The station produces
hydrogen using electricity generated by the on-site wind turbine, making it North America's first renewable energy refuelling station.

Total cost (both projects): $1.61 million.
CTFCA contribution: $620,000, balance contributed by Hydrogenics.

Hydrogen Highway™

The CTFCA is contributing $623,000 over three years to fund a project manager and management activities for the Hydrogen Highway, a coordinated, large-scale demonstration and deployment project that will see a consortium of organizations design, build, operate, test and evaluate a hydrogen fuelling infrastructure along a corridor between Vancouver and Whistler, with an extension to Victoria. The project will demonstrate a wide variety of transportation, stationary, portable and micropower applications that can utilize the hydrogen fuelling infrastructure. It will also demonstrate the operational, economic, environmental and social feasibility of a hydrogen fuelling infrastructure that utilizes different hydrogen production and delivery pathways. Targeted for full implementation by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver and Whistler, the project will be a showcase of sustainable transportation, creating a hydrogen highway that will allow visitors to travel between the Vancouver Airport and Whistler for the 2010 Olympics. Seven initial hydrogen fuelling demonstration sites are currently planned: the Vancouver International Airport, Powertech Labs in Surrey, the National Research Council's (NRC) Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation, the downtown Vancouver node, Sacré-Davey in North Vancouver, the Whistler Village and the University of Victoria/BC Transit.

National Hydrogen Association student design contest for hydrogen fuelling stations

More than 100 educators and students from over 40 universities and colleges across Canada and the United States participated in the first competition to design the next generation of hydrogen fuelling stations. The CTFCA sponsored the event, organized by the National Hydrogen Association. The 17 participating teams submitted design proposals; investigated the technical attributes, safety features and capabilities, economics and environmental impacts of hydrogen; and developed marketing plans to increase public awareness of the hydrogen industry. Winners were announced in April 2004 in Los Angeles, California. The University of Victoria took first prize; the University of Toronto placed third.

Purolator Ltd.:
Fuel-cell hybrid delivery van and on-site hydrogen refuelling system

Purolator's CTFCA-supported demonstration project is the first step in an effort to replace its conventional diesel-powered vehicles with zero-emissions fuel-cell vehicles. The company is contracting Hydrogenics Corporation to develop and deploy a fuel-cell-electric hybrid vehicle and a hydrogen refuelling station, to be located at one of Purolator's depots in the Greater Toronto Area. Hydrogenics will develop a fuel-cell-battery electric propulsion system and integrate it with a hybrid-electric vehicle for Purolator's delivery fleet. The refuelling station will use Hydrogenics' PEM electrolysis technology, which is capable of generating hydrogen from water using renewable energy, such as wind or hydro power. The project will begin in late 2004 and extend into 2005.

Total project cost: $3 million.
CTFCA contribution: $1.5 million, matched by Purolator.

Powertech Labs:
Electrolyser upgrade

With support from the CTFCA, Powertech Labs has upgraded the existing Stuart Energy Systems electrolyser at the Compressed Hydrogen Infrastructure Program (CH2IP) station in Surrey, British Columbia. The original electrolyzer, supplied by Stuart Energy Systems, was a prototype package and has operated more than 10,000 hours at Powertech producing hydrogen for the testing program. The new unit will be more reliable and will consume less power.

Total project cost: $530,000.
CTFCA contribution: $265,000, matched by Powertech.

Sacré-Davey Engineering:
Preliminary engineering for a fuelling station

Sacré-Davey Engineering will be performing preliminary engineering to
develop a fuelling station located in North Vancouver based on a waste hydrogen stream. This work is a component of an Integrated Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP), defined as a multi-faceted, multi-member project designed to harness a large waste stream of hydrogen and stimulate the use of hydrogen in the transportation market.
Total project cost: $192,000.
CTFCA contribution: $96,000, matched by Sacré-Davey.

Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Program (VFCVP):
Canada's first fleet demonstration of fuel cell vehicles

The VFCVP is a four-year, $7.5-million demonstration initiative to test
fuel cell vehicles in the lower mainland of British Columbia. The project will determine what improvements need to be made before bringing fuel-cell vehicles to market, examine fuelling issues and solutions, assess reduction levels of GHG emissions, determine and encourage public acceptance, and provide feedback for encouraging
commercial adoption.

CTFCA contribution: $2 million. Other partners include the Ford Motor Company, the Government of Canada's Technology Early Action Measures program, the Government of British Columbia, the National Research Council and Fuel Cells Canada.