Connect with fellow industry professionals and enjoy a networking breakfast, exclusive to strategic conference delegates.

Hydrogen and CCS project developers are increasingly expressing a need for more certainty, specifically referring to regulatory constraints. In this panel, experts will discuss what steps are necessary to create a supportive environment for developers, investors, and consumers, and drive short- and long-term growth of the hydrogen economy across Canada.

Attendee insights:
The panel will discuss the critical role of the government chain in getting hydrogen projects off the ground and what measures need to occur to expedite and scale the Canadian hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen hubs are forming across Canada, from Vancouver, Edmonton and Southern Ontario to Atlantic Canada. Each hub is home to a unique set of resources, energy mixes and economic drivers. This session will examine the progress made in developing hydrogen hubs in Eastern and Atlantic Canada, their respective plans for meeting demand domestically and abroad, and scaling hydrogen development across the region’s key projects such as Project Nujio’qonik in Newfoundland and Labrador, Port of Belledune in New Brunswick, the Point Tupper site in Nova Scotia and the Sarnia-Lambton hub in Ontario.

Attendee insights:
This pan-Canadian panel will outline how different hubs are harnessing their resources to accelerate demand for hydrogen and their different export strategies, and what collaboration will look like with essential partners on the path to Canada’s hydrogen future.

Connect with fellow industry professionals and enjoy a networking coffee break, exclusive to strategic conference delegates.

Currently, heavy industry and long-distance transport represent less than 0.1% of hydrogen demand. However, the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 (NZE) Scenario predicts they will account for one-third of global hydrogen demand by 2030. Recent milestones include Nikola’s Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) completing a round trip between Edmonton and Calgary; Walmart Canada becoming the first major retailer fleet in North America to operate a hydrogen truck; HTEC’s H2 Gateway; and Air Products’ plans for a commercial hydrogen refueling network in Alberta.

Attendee insights:
The speakers will discuss the critical steps in developing a closed-loop system of production, distribution, and consumption of hydrogen, and ecosystem strategies to accelerate hydrogen fuel adoption and attract off-takers in transportation.

As nations work towards net-zero by 2050, many are investing public funds to attract private investment and develop low-carbon hydrogen markets. In the US, US$8 billion from the bipartisan infrastructure bill aims to leverage tens of billions in private capital. The EU’s hydrogen strategy requires hundreds of billions in private investment, but only a small portion of the €130 billion announced has reached final investment decisions (FID). In Canada, the Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit (CHITC), passed in June 2024, and other incentives represent CA$93 billion by 2034-35. Yet, project developers face slow subsidy rollouts, few FIDs, insufficient infrastructure, and concerns around the funding required to make projects economic.

Attendee insights:
Delegates will learn about the barriers to private investment in hydrogen and strategies to overcome them, ensuring the growth of a sustainable hydrogen economy in Canada. The speakers will share their experiences of navigating the funding process to get their pilots projects off the ground.

Connect with fellow industry professionals and enjoy a networking lunch, exclusive to strategic conference delegates.

Currently 13 partnership agreements or MOUs exist between hydrogen project proponents and Indigenous groups, communities or organizations, with more developing, including the McLeod Lake Indian Band and the Province of British Columbia having signed a MOU for a proposed Tse’khene energy transition hub, and Salish Elements signing an Agreement in Principle with the Indigenous government of Xaxli’p.

Attendee insights:
Delegates will hear firsthand from project partners across Canada how strong collaborations between industry and First Nations create economic benefits for communities while continuing to position Canada as a leading hydrogen economy.

The hydrogen industry will not only create new, high-quality jobs but also provide pathways for workers in high-emitting industries, heavy transport and technology to transition to more sustainable practices. However, a global survey by the IEA found that supply of skilled labour is failing to keep pace with demand, posing a threat to scaling the hydrogen economy. This panel will discuss how industry, government and academia are collaborating to overcome workforce challenges and ensure that Canada’s hydrogen sector has the skilled, diverse workforce needed for long-term success.

Attendee insights:
The panelists will discuss practical steps for overcoming skills gaps, lack of targeted educational programs, competition with other industries and worker mobility, through collaboration between industry stakeholders, educational institutions, and government.

Connect with fellow industry professionals and enjoy a networking coffee break, exclusive to strategic conference delegates.

Midstream development faces challenges such as high costs and difficulties delivering to major demand areas. Regulatory, stakeholder, and safety concerns, along with competition from other energy sources, complicate the landscape.

Attendee insights:
This session will explore the how the industry can overcome challenges to capacity-expanding midstream development across Canada. Delegates will hear about strategies for scaling distribution networks to meet rising hydrogen demand competitively across Canada.