Hydrogen from remote excess hydroelectricity
Date
1993
Authors
Ouellette, Nancy
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Abstract
This thesis is based on a project performed under contract between IESVic and a consortium of municipal, institutional and governmental organizations in the Northwest Territories. The objective of the study is to examine the techno-economic feasibility of establishing a new hydrogen-based industry utilizing the surplus/off-peak generating capacity of the Taltson Dam and Generating Station, near Fort Smith, Northwest Territories.
After evaluating the amount and cost of hydrogen produced via water electrolysis from the excess capacity, the study investigates three potential hydrogen utilization scenarios:
1) merchant liquid or compressed hydrogen,
2) hydrogen as a chemical feedstock for the production of hydrogen peroxide,
3) methanol production from biomass, oxygen and hydrogen.
The following results and recommendations were presented to the NWT steering committee:
- Given favourable electricity rate, low cost electrolytic hydrogen can be produced in Fort Smith and therefore represents an opportunity to develop a local hydrogen-based industry.
- Of all options examined, hydrogen peroxide is the most promising and attractive.
- A detailed market study should be performed to clearly assess the current consumption and future growth of demand in the target pulp and paper industry market.
- If the market study proves favourable, investors have to be identified starting with existing hydrogen peroxide producers which can provide technology and experience.
Finally, in a more general context, this thesis examines the synergies, opportunities and barriers associated with hydrogen and excess hydroelectricity in remote areas and concludes with the following :
- In the long term, hydrogen as a regionally "domestic" energy currency could serve the development of "remote region" energy systems in Canada.
- Near-term direct uses of hydrogen in remote communities are precluded by the high capital cost barrier of today's hydrogen end-use technologies.
- There is an immediate need and a concurrent business development opportunity for manufacturing medium efficiency/low capital cost hydrogen end-use technologies. These technologies would serve well the development of remote regions in Canada and could also be of interest to developing countries.
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UN SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure