Hydrogen Systems: A Canadian Opportunity for Greenhouse Gas Reduction and Economic Growth

Achieving stabilization in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels calls for per capita reductions in excess of 50% from today's levels in the next half century. Hydrogen systems could provide both immediate and long-term emission reductions to achieve this goal. The emission benefits of hydrogen technologies derive not just from the increased efficiency associated with hydrogen-based energy conversion processes such as fuel cells, but also from the consideration of hydrogen as an energy carrier and industrial feedstock within a larger energy system. Because of our abundant energy resources and leadership in hydrogen technologies, Canada is well positioned to lead in the transition to a hydrogen economy. This paper looks at strategies for the transition to hydrogen-based energy systems that were developed through workshops involving 60 representatives from Canadian industry, government and academia. The purpose of these workshops was to: examine near-term technologies; determine whether the development of hydrogen technologies could be accelerated within the time frame for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in Canada's Project Green initiative, yielding a "visible" contribution at reasonable cost (> IMT reduction in CO₂ equivalent emissions); and establish a direction for future energy processes that will address the need for far greater emission reductions in the future.