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At ATCO, we are committed to being a leader in promoting a more environmentally sustainable future by providing cleaner, reliable and affordable energy to customers in Alberta and across the globe. By leveraging our natural gas resources, existing infrastructure, and energy expertise, Alberta can produce ultra-low emissions hydrogen at a lower cost than almost any other jurisdiction in the world.  

Hydrogen can play a powerful role in affordably decarbonizing the production of heat, which is vital to achieve Canada’s long-term emissions and energy goals, particularly in our cold Canadian climate.

Yes. As with natural gas, hydrogen can be produced, transported, stored and used safely. Just like natural gas, it must be treated with respect and with the proper care and handling. It is a colourless, odourless, tasteless, non-toxic and non-poisonous gas that when burned, produces only heat and water vapour with no carbon emissions. 

At ATCO, safety is always the first and top priority in everything we do. We care deeply about our people and our customers and would never move forward with a project that is not safe. Our experts will conduct numerous inspections and testing of the target network infrastructure and customers’ domestic appliances and piping to ensure safety.

Hydrogen is becoming central to the decarbonization plans in many advanced economies around the globe such as Australia, Germany, Japan, and South Korea. In fact, the Hawaiian gas network currently contains 10 to 15 per cent hydrogen and the Hong Kong gas network contains approximately 50 per cent hydrogen.

No. Customers in the project zone will not be billed any differently than customers outside of the project zone. There will be a minor increase in the volume of gas needed throughout the network to provide the same amount of heat to homes and businesses. But because customers pay for energy consumed, not the volume of gas, there will be no change to the energy costs.

Yes, we are actively piloting new and innovative applications for hydrogen, including our Clean Energy Innovation Hub, located in Western Australia. The facility is a test bed for hybrid energy solutions and integrates natural gas, solar, battery storage and hydrogen production, as well as the commercial application of clean energy in micro-grid systems.

ATCO has also teamed up with Australia's Fortescue Metals Group to build and operate hydrogen refueling facilities for vehicles in Western Australia.

Blending hydrogen into natural gas is not a new technology, as there are several systems already in operation in Canada, Europe and Hawaii, as well as at our own Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Australia. Doing so reduces the GHG intensity of the natural gas stream, thus creating a lower carbon energy for our customers. With a focus on safety and affordability, ATCO has a long-term approach to managing and minimizing our environmental impacts and we continue to grow this and many other GHG reduction initiatives, contributing to Alberta’s and Canada’s greater climate goals.  

No. Extensive research has found that hydrogen blended into natural gas systems at ratios up to 20 per cent does not impact appliances. Be sure to check out our appliance testing video that shows how the different blends of hydrogen affect the look of the flame in a stovetop, furnace, and fireplace. Additionally, there will not be any noticeable change in your gas supply at five per cent blended gas - the look, sound, and smell will remain consistent.

Several hydrogen blending projects are currently operating in Canada, Europe and Hawaii. This is the  first project of its kind here in Alberta that uses existing local resources and infrastructure to blend hydrogen into a subsection of Fort Saskatchewan’s residential natural gas distribution system.