Alberta bill enables hydrogen home heating, electricity market remodelling [Video]

Alberta’s government is looking to give the green light to hydrogen as a home and commercial heating fuel in a move it says will boost demand and reduce emissions.

If passed, legislation tabled by Utilities Minister Nathan Neudorf would allow utility companies to blend hydrogen into their supply of natural gas.

Neudorf told reporters that Alberta’s estimated annual production of about 2.4 million tonnes of hydrogen “presents an enormous opportunity,” but his bill doesn’t mean hydrogen will make its way into every home right away.

The bill stipulates any company looking to make use of hydrogen will need customers to sign off on receiving the blended heat source beforehand.

It also requires any company looking to recoup costs through consumers for the infrastructure needed to incorporate hydrogen to charge only those receiving the blended fuel, which Neudorf said would be more expensive than natural gas alone.

Neudorf told reporters that …