Ian Froude and Stephanie Granville of Pedal & Shift are pleased to have attended the World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam in May 2024, the largest hydrogen-focused exhibition in the world. We took a divide and conquer approach. Stephanie immersed in the 3-day hydrogen policy Summit. Ian engaged with the 500+ booth Exhibition, tech sessions, Trade Commissioner’s Networking Cafe, a full-day site tour of cutting edge hydrogen projects, and more.
During the Summit, the need to collaborate with others to advance this industry was stressed repeatedly. The generation of electricity from wind or solar, and conversion to H2 (hydrogen) and on to NH3 (ammonia) for ease of transport, is being explored across the globe.
Updates on progress of projects and plans for new developments, as well as a pitches for the world to invest and purchase blue and green H2, were heard from Canada (including our home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, and neighbouring Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), the USA, Panama, Uruguay, Morocco, Namibia, Spain, The Netherlands, Belgium, France, Germany, Norway, The United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Australia, among others.
Those regions who will need to import H2 to meet their net zero targets are taking steps to put the infrastructure in place to transport, distribute, and apply it. There is some hesitancy to invest in infrastructure until there is a product available, and final investment decisions (FID) on wind farms and hydrogen/ammonia production facilities rely upon customers. This chicken and egg problem was referenced by many - though some players are beginning to take action.
Canada presented itself as an ideal area for investment, with Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) being particularly attractive. Countries who need to import clean energy, wish to do so from areas that are already generating their own electricity using renewable means. NL checks that box and many others: multiple areas with wind of sufficient strength and frequency for reliable electricity production; access to an abundance of freshwater - the source of hydrogen; and deep-water ports along the shipping lanes to Europe. There are exciting times ahead for Newfoundland and Labrador as we responsibly harness and profit from our natural resources, and support the global effort to decarbonize.
Through the conference, connections were made to potential partners and work opportunities for our Canadian clients. We are also pursuing potential clients in Europe who are looking to export their services to Atlantic Canada. We are well into the next steps of pursuing these relationships and opportunities and look forward to what comes next! We are committed to doing our part to make the wind-hydrogen industry come to fruition here in Atlantic Canada.
Stephanie Granville
Operations & Service Delivery Manager – Pedal & Shift
Pedal & Shift provides strategy and business development services for technical firms. We specialize in helping clients grow in renewable energy and ocean technology markets across Atlantic Canada and Europe.