WC130 MayJune2023 - Magazine - Page 19
As green hydrogen power uses progress, continuing to maintain adequate
protection of Canada’s water sources will be imperative in order to allow
for the sustainable utilization of water to power tomorrow’s future.
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To properly harness hydrogen for industrial use, Canada will require additional investment into its infrastructure.
Using hydrogen on an industrial scale will also require
consideration of the potential dangers flowing from increased
NOx emissions. Although green hydrogen is produced without
generating polluting emissions, hydrogen combustion produces
NOx emissions in greater quantities than current methane
combustion. As a result of increased NOx emissions, potential impacts include the degradation of water quality and the
surrounding environment as NOx emissions may contribute to
nutrient pollution and acid rain. Although current regulations
under the Multi-Sector Air Pollutants Regulations establish limits
of allowable NOx emissions in Canada, further evaluation of
these regulations will be required if hydrogen power is utilized
on an industrial scale. While minimizing NOx production
is possible through controlled combustion of after-treatment
applications, this may result in reduced power output and
increased costs and complexity. With these concerns in mind,
hydrogen combustion applications will require further optimization and development to minimize environmental and public
health concerns and to derive the greatest benefits from growth
in hydrogen use.
While the industrial use of hydrogen poses risks, it may also
benefit current infrastructure within Canada. For example,
WAT E R C A N A D A . N E T
Ontario utilizes a combination of run-of-the-river (ROR) and
dam-based (DB) hydroelectric generation plants to produce
electricity. However, limitations of ROR plants are that they
are considered an “unfirm” source of power, meaning they
have limited energy storage capacities. Accounting for this
limitation, power produced from ROR plants could be used to
provide the electricity required for electrolysis, thereby incentivizing further integration, development, and use of ROR and
hydrogen production plants. However, as previously discussed,
developing safe hydrogen transportation and storage infrastructure around hydropower projects will be necessary in order to
ensure that the water sources being utilized remain properly
protected.
Overall, the adoption of green hydrogen power as clean
renewable energy is still in its infancy, with various significant
challenges ahead. Although the transition into green hydrogen
power may provide Canada with an alternative to fossil fuels, innovation will be required to build and strengthen green
hydrogen infrastructure for industrial use. As green hydrogen
power uses progress, continuing to maintain adequate protection
of Canada’s water sources will be imperative to allow for the
sustainable utilization of water to power tomorrow’s future.
WATER C AN ADA • M AY/JUNE 2023
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