Winnipeg Transit is on the verge of awarding a contract worth $9 million for hydrogen production, with the recipient likely to be a company based in neighboring Alberta.
The project aims to generate hydrogen (H2) using methanol, ensuring that Winnipeg Transit’s new fleet of zero-emission buses has the necessary fuel to operate.
Although this method isn’t as environmentally friendly as using renewable energy for electrolysis (green hydrogen), it marks a significant step toward cleaner hydrogen utilization, according to a recent announcement from transit officials in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The city council’s public works committee recently convened to evaluate Azolla Hydrogen as the potential contract awardee. Based in Red Deer, Alberta, Azolla Hydrogen would be responsible for designing, building, and installing Winnipeg Transit’s hydrogen generation equipment, which it will then operate for one year.
The decision to opt for methanol as a source of hydrogen, rather than renewable energy and electrolysis, was mainly due to cost considerations.
Erin Cooke, leading the transit authority’s transition to zero-emission buses, highlighted the cost-effectiveness and proven performance of this technology, particularly in cold climates.
Cooke emphasized that they chose methanol because it is already being transported to Winnipeg for use in the city’s sewage treatment. Despite some carbon emissions associated with methanol production and usage, we expect the overall emissions to be significantly lower than those from diesel-powered buses. Furthermore, stakeholders view this move as a stepping stone towards adopting green hydrogen in the future.