Industry Canada's Resource Processing Industries Branch plays a catalytic role in advancing Canada's transition to a hydrogen economy by delivering on five key pillars in collaboration with key stakeholders. These include: Planning-coordination-policy analysis; Communications and Outreach; R&D; Advisory Role; Commercialization and Diffusion; Private-Public Partnerships and International Activities. Key initiatives include advocacy and advice; promotion of international strategic partnerships; coordination, communications, education and outreach; support for research and market demonstration; and policy, analysis and recommendations on sector commercialization issues.

Industry Canada also co-chairs the federal Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Committee with Natural Resources Canada, through which it undertakes many of the above activities.

Please visit the Government of Canada Hydrogen Economy Portal for further information on the Committee, as well as on Government of Canada activities in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector.

About Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

Hydrogen Basics

The most abundant element, making up over 80 percent of our universe, hydrogen is truly the building block of our world.

Hydrogen consists of one proton and one electron. Highly reactive, it's almost never found in a naturally free state but rather bonded to other elements. Most commonly hydrogen is bonded to oxygen to make water.

In its free gaseous form, hydrogen is much lighter than air, rising and quickly dissipating when released into the atmosphere. Its high energy-to-weight ratio makes it an ideal spacecraft fuel. Invisible, odourless, and non-toxic, hydrogen is also widely used in the food, metal, glass and chemical industries.

The Fuel Cell

A fuel cell is an electrochemical energy conversion device that uses hydrogen or other fuels to produce electricity, water, and heat.

A fuel cell operates much like a battery, but, unlike a battery, it doesn't consume electrode material or require electrical recharging. In fact, a fuel cell can generate power almost indefinitely, as long as fuel is supplied. Plus, a fuel cell can be scaled to power everything from cell phones to automobiles to entire buildings.

The Hydrogen Fuel Cell

When a fuel cell is used together with hydrogen as the energy source, zero or near zero emissions are produced. A hydrogen fuel cell electrochemically combines hydrogen and oxygen to generate electricity, water and heat. There are no other emissions. Different types of fuel cells use different electrolytes with different electrochemical reactions occurring, but the overall reaction is the same. Together hydrogen and fuel cells provide a clean source of power for a range of sectors including transportation, and electricity generation.

For further information on hydrogen and fuel cells, and their uses, impacts and benefits please visit the "Learn More" site.