Science and Technology for Canadians

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Transcript of Video:

Narrator:

The path to a clean energy future has never been brighter. Hydrogen fuel cells are being harnessed to power vehicles, office buildings, industrial machinery such as forklifts; local service vehicles and to provide emergency backup power.  Call them the first steps towards a new hydrogen economy. 

With help from the Government of Canada - Canadian scientists and industry are world leaders in developing innovative energy technologies. One example – Canada’s Hydrogenics company is using hydrogen produced from wind to power fuel cell vehicles.

Hydrogen fuel cells generate green power. They use hydrogen and oxygen from the air to produce electricity, heat and water, releasing zero emissions. Hydrogen can be made from renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power. Or it can be made from carbon based fuels such as natural gas.

Fuel cells are on the move. The Government of Canada, in partnership with industry and the Province of British Columbia, is building Canada’s first Hydrogen Highway.  It will connect Vancouver airport along the Pacific Coast Highway to the ski resort at Whistler, co-host of the 2010 Olympic Games. Fuel cell buses and other zero-emission vehicles will re-fuel along the way at stations like this one already in operation.

The highway is designed to show the world that Canadian hydrogen fuel cell technology can be used everyday in vehicles, industry and business, at home - anywhere power is required.

Nick Beck, Chief -Transportation Energy Technologies, Natural Resources Canada:

Fuel cells and hydrogen really offer the opportunity to move from fossil fuels. The hydrogen can come from renewable energy. The only way to get renewable energy like hydro or wind into the transportation sector is through batteries or through hydrogen and fuel cells. And hydrogen and fuel cells outperform batteries right now.

Narrator:

This clean energy technology holds the promise of powering a sustainable society faced with dwindling carbon fuel sources and a threatened atmosphere.

Nick Beck:

Hydrogen and fuel cells offer an opportunity to address global climate change. We can reduce our greenhouse gases through the use of hydrogen, we can displace gasoline from the transportation sector. We can also reduce other toxic emissions, which are particularly important in the urban environment.

Narrator:

Canadian made clean energy technology is putting hydrogen – the world’s most abundant energy source – to work.  Some challenges remain before mass commercialization of hydrogen is achieved. However, dramatic moves such as Canada’s first demonstration of a fleet of fuel cell cars is setting that process in motion. Clearly the hydrogen highway is a roadmap from today to tomorrow.