Environment Minister Baird Opens Ottawa’s First Hydrogen Fuelling Station

OTTAWA – The Honourable John Baird, Minister of the Environment, on behalf of the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources, and Pierre Gauthier, Air Liquide Director, Hydrogen Energy, North America, presided over the official opening of the first permanent hydrogen fuelling station in Ottawa as part of the “Hydrogen on the Hill” project launched last year.

The new station’s first customers will be three hydrogen-powered buses operated by the Senate of Canada.

“These buses have racked up more than 6,000 trouble-free kilometres over the past year. They’re proving that hydrogen is not just a clean alternative – it’s also a realistic alternative,” said Minister Baird. “Our government is leading by example with initiatives such as Hydrogen on the Hill. This is another demonstration of our government’s commitment to achieving tangible results for the reduction of greenhouse gases and air pollution that we set out in our Turning the Corner Plan.”

The new station, at the Natural Resources Canada Booth Street campus in Ottawa, is the fifth permanent hydrogen fuelling station in Ontario and the tenth currently operating in Canada. Natural Resources Canada, through the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance, and Air Liquide Canada each contributed $800,000 toward the $1.6-million station.

“As we work toward the transition to a renewable hydrogen economy, Air Liquide Canada is delighted to see the next step in this project become a reality,” said Luc Doyon, President and COO of Air Liquide Canada. “Our partnership with government and industry to educate the public about hydrogen as an alternative energy source to fossil fuels is an example of our joint commitment to sustainable development.”

Hydrogen on the Hill is part of a nation-wide project led by Industry Canada and Ford of Canada. The project is managed by Advanced Technologies and Fuels Canada (ATFCAN) and is assessing the environmental benefits and commercial feasibility of using hydrogen as a transportation fuel

Ford has deployed a total of ten shuttle buses across Canada powered by hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2ICE). The H2ICEs produce 75 percent less nitrogen oxide – the major ingredient in smog – no CO2 emissions and almost no other air pollutants. In addition to Ottawa, the hydrogen-powered buses will be running in Vancouver, Prince Edward Island and Toronto.