Ontario’s hydrogen sector hosts roundtable with Minister Oosterhoff during inaugural Advocacy & Awareness Week
TORONTO – Today, Hydrogen Ontario (“H2ON”), an affiliate of the Canadian Hydrogen Association (“CHA”), concluded its inaugural provincial Advocacy and Awareness Week from September 16th – 24th, 2024. During the week, members of Hydrogen Ontario met with policy makers from all political parties to educate and raise awareness for the Ontario hydrogen industry and the critical role the industry plays in helping Ontario achieve its decarbonization goals.
The week-long initiative kicked off with a stakeholder roundtable featuring Ontario’s Associate Minister for Energy Intensive Industries, the Hon. Sam Oosterhoff, and a select group of industry leaders spanning the entire hydrogen value chain. Representatives from key Ontario companies – including Atura Power, Enbridge, and the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (“GTAA”) – joined the discussion to highlight the economic and environmental benefits of hydrogen.
A report from H2GO Canada, a not-for-profit organization focused on the development of low-carbon hydrogen markets, estimates the creation of 70,000 new jobs by 2030 to support the build-out and operation of hydrogen supply chains in Ontario, under a moderate growth scenario driven by competitive hydrogen pricing. The report also emphasizes the critical role hydrogen can play in decarbonizing many of Ontario’s strategically important and energy-intensive industry sectors. “Ontario is building a strong hydrogen economy, creating good-paying jobs and ensuring clean energy security for our province,” said Minister Oosterhoff, Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries. “This roundtable brought together stakeholders from across the hydrogen supply chain to advance this shared vision. Working collaboratively with industry to foster growth in this sector is an integral part of our plan to provide clean, reliable, and affordable energy while maintaining our leadership in the low-carbon economy, now and into the future.”
Beyond the benefits of hydrogen, the roundtable explored the challenges that industrial emitters are facing when evaluating the adoption of clean hydrogen at scale compared to other regions benefiting from more favorable policies. Throughout the week, Hydrogen Ontario, which represents over 90 CHA members, stressed the urgency of aligning Ontario’s policies with those
in other regions to unlock the full economic potential of hydrogen and to allow Ontario’s industries to remain competitive in global low-carbon markets.
“Ontario’s first Hydrogen Advocacy and Awareness Week highlights hydrogen’s critical role in building a net-zero economy,” said CHA CEO and President Ivette-Vera Perez. “By fostering collaboration between industry and policymakers, we are advancing awareness and education about hydrogen’s impact on Ontario’s economy and its competitiveness in global markets.”
“Ontario is at a crossroads,” said Maike Althaus, Executive Director of Hydrogen Ontario. “Without stronger policy support, we risk losing not only jobs but also Ontario’s competitive edge in the global hydrogen economy.”
The week featured participation from a diverse group of companies, including:
• Atura Power
• Aurora Hydrogen
• Canadian Power to X Partners (CPXP)
• Change Energy
• Cipher Neutron
• Enbridge
• Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA)
• Greenfield Global
• ITD Nikola
• StormFisher
• Hydrocool
The association will continue its efforts to engage with policymakers from all political parties as well as other key stakeholders to build a strong, competitive hydrogen economy in the province.
About the Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA)
The Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA) is a national, non-profit association that represents industry, academia, end-users and other stakeholders in Canada’s hydrogen sector. As the Voice of the Sector, the CHA’s mission is to strengthen Canadian leadership, raise awareness of the benefits of clean hydrogen and hydrogen technologies, and accelerate the adoption of its members’ products and services to help create a prosperous low-carbon world. The CHA supports over 200 members across Canada and regional affiliates in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. You can also follow CHA on LinkedIn, X (@PoweringNow) or visit www.canadah2.ca to learn more information.
Contact:
Maike Althaus, Executive Director, Hydrogen Ontario, Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA)
Email: [email protected], Cell: +1 647 984 0618
