Sustainability Committee
Potential For hydrogen energy in Atlantic Canada Submitted by Dr. Martin Tango, P.Eng., and Samantha MacCallum School of Engineering, Acadia University
A review of hydrogen energy around the world Although hydrogen has been used industrially for decades, it has recently become a much larger area of interest as countries continue to search for cleaner energy solutions. It has the capacity to provide low-carbon energy to end-uses that are difficult to electrify directly, such as heavy transportation and industrial manufacturing, due to their demanding energy and operational requirements and is being increasingly recognized as a key technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting the transition to low-carbon systems. Hydrogen can be produced through several pathways depending on the primary energy source and production technology employed. These methods
differ in their environmental impact, economic feasibility, and technological maturity. The most common production pathways include water electrolysis, steam methane reforming (SMR), biomass gasification, coal gasification, methane pyrolysis, and biological processes. Based on the feedstock and associated carbon emissions, hydrogen is commonly classified as green hydrogen, produced by water electrolysis using renewable electricity (This is a process in which water (H2O) is separated into Hydrogen (H2) and Oxygen (O2) by using electric power); blue hydrogen, generated from natural gas through steam methane reforming coupled with carbon capture and storage (CCS); and hydrogen derived from biomass or other low-carbon feedstocks. The suitability of each production route depends on 26
the availability of local resources, infrastructure, energy policies, and economic considerations. In the context of Atlantic Canada, the region’s abundant renewable energy resources, biomass availability, and existing industrial infrastructure provide opportunities to support multiple hydrogen production pathways, with green hydrogen expected to play a dominant role in the region’s long-term energy transition (Natural Resources Canada, 2020; Omid Yousefzade, personal communication, July 22, 2026). Therefore, since renewable energy powers the process, and hydrogen and oxygen are the only direct byproducts, green hydrogen produces little to no direct greenhouse gas emissions, making it an appealing candidate for sustainable energy production (Natural Resources Canada, 2024).