Quebec To Be Home To Canada’s Largest Green Hydrogen Project

Gazifère, an Enbridge company, and Evolugen, the Canadian operating business of Brookfield Renewable, plan to build and operate a 20-MW water electrolysis hydrogen production plant. The plant will be built in the Masson sector of the city of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, adjacent to Evolugen’s hydroelectric facilities, which will power the electrolyzer. An estimated capacity of approximately 425,000 gigajoules of green hydrogen will be produced for injection into Gazifère’s natural gas distribution network, making this the first project of its kind in Canada.

Gazifère is one of two natural gas distributors in Quebec, serving more than 43,500 customers. Gazifère began supplying renewable natural gas (RNG) in 2020 and intends to become the first natural gas distributor on the continent to offer an all-green, fully renewable energy portfolio by 2050.

“Green hydrogen can play a major role in Quebec’s energy transition by offering a sustainable, low-carbon energy solution,” said Cynthia Hansen, Enbridge’s executive vice president and president of gas distribution and storage. “With the production, transportation, and distribution of green hydrogen, Gazifère has the ambition to provide its customers with an increasingly diversified portfolio of renewable natural gas options. This is another important example of Enbridge’s multimarket approach to green the natural gas grid while continuing to meet the demand for safe, reliable, and affordable energy.”

This project represents the first phase in the creation of a regional green economy ecosystem centered around the production, distribution, and use of green hydrogen. With ongoing support from the municipal, provincial, and federal governments, Gazifère and Evolugen are well positioned to leverage numerous strategic assets, including access to natural resources. The two companies are working together to develop the Outaouais region and put Quebec and Canada at the forefront of the movement to economically reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“As an experienced renewable energy generation developer, owner, and operator, Evolugen sees green hydrogen as a natural progression and fit in its portfolio of clean energy solutions,” said Josée Guibord, Evolugen CEO. “This project aligns with and furthers Evolugen’s objectives to put its capital, expertise, and resources to work to support governments, businesses, and communities in reaching their energy transition and decarbonization goals.”