Hydrogen: A Game Changer in the Pursuit of Cleaner Energy

Is hydrogen heralding a new era of renewable energy and setting a bold new standard for the industry?  

Enbridge Gas has been working to unlock hydrogen's potential as a robust and versatile energy carrier through some pioneering initiatives in North America. With the increasing demand for low-carbon energy sources, hydrogen is emerging as a promising contender in the energy transition. 

In 2018, Enbridge Gas partnered with Hydrogenics, a division of Cummins Inc., to launch North America’s first multi-megawatt power-to-gas (PtG) facility. The purpose of the facility was to showcase the full capabilities of a PtG facility through electrolytic hydrogen production while supporting the provincial electricity grid through ancillary services.

“The Markham PtG facility is a key component of our hydrogen initiatives. It uses electrolysis to convert electrical energy into hydrogen gas by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen, and like electricity, hydrogen is a very versatile energy carrier. The PtG process enables renewables such as wind and solar to become dispatchable energy systems, ensuring a steady supply of power when both systems are non-generating,” explains Sam McDermott, Technical Manager of Renewable Hydrogen, Enbridge Gas Inc. 

Dispatchable energy systems provide flexibility to the electrical grid and create a collaborative union between the gas and electrical grids for lower carbon and energy resiliency.

The stored hydrogen could later be used to offset peak electricity, provide fuel for hydrogen-powered electric vehicles, or as feedstock for industry.

In 2021, Enbridge continued its pioneering work by launching a pilot project called the Markham Lower Carbon Energy Project, another North American first. The project, which blends clean hydrogen into a portion of the existing natural gas (NG) distribution network over a five-year term to approximately 3,600 customers, will determine its ability to reduce carbon in the greater gas grid at scale. The project has successfully passed the halfway mark.

In 2022, Enbridge Gas announced its intent to put North America’s first hydrogen-powered combined heat and power (CHP) plant into service. “It was another way of looking at other ways of going behind the meter to help our customers in their efforts to reduce carbon by using a first-of-a-kind CHP system,” says Sam. 

This CHP can replace up to 92% of Enbridge’s Training and Operations Center’s electricity from the local distribution company and supply close to 60% of the building heat. It was commissioned in March 2024 and runs on 100% hydrogen, 100% natural gas, or a blend of both energy sources, starting at 35% hydrogen to natural gas. Renewable natural gas can be substituted for traditional natural gas.

In the transportation space, Enbridge has purchased four Hyundai Nexos fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) for testing in its fleet as part of its fleet modernization.

“We want to understand how hydrogen FCEVs perform given the continuous duty cycles of our operations personnel whose vehicles are their offices. They travel to remote locations and aren't able to wait for long periods of time to recharge their vehicles,” says Sam. 

We believe that hydrogen is one way to help lower carbon emissions.

“This is the transformational part of our Enbridge DNA. We're always evolving,” concludes Sam.