Bruce Power Net Zero Inc. researching nuclear’s role in hydrogen production
by CM Staff
BPNZ announces that Matt Fairlie will be joining as a as Senior Advisor, Hydrogen Development.
TIVERTON — Bruce Power Net Zero Inc. (BPNZ) is exploring the potential for carbon-free nuclear technology to try and advance opportunities to market and mass-produce hydrogen to help Ontario and Canada meet climate change targets.
Canada and other countries around the globe are taking a closer look at incorporating hydrogen as part of a clean energy mix in order to reach greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets. Nuclear power is part of Ontario’s clean electricity grid, and Bruce Power annually produces 30 per cent of the province’s energy.
“Hydrogen is an ideal complementary technology to nuclear,” said Richard Horrobin, Bruce Power’s Vice-President of Business Development and Energy Innovation. “Our Clean Energy Frontier region of Bruce, Grey and Huron counties, which is rich in clean energy infrastructure and expertise, is uniquely positioned to drive opportunities for potential hydrogen partnerships and projects, leveraging the advantages of nuclear, to achieve a Net Zero future.”
Examining the potential for hydrogen aligns with BPNZ’s mandate to leverage other clean technologies to build off Ontario’s nuclear foundation, while supporting Canada’s and Ontario’s Net Zero goals. To further support that mandate, BPNZ recently joined the Hydrogen Business Council, a community of energy and business leaders focused on advocating for hydrogen solutions, driving education, and enabling the development of hydrogen projects.
To advance its efforts to explore the role of nuclear in the market potential and policy development for the production of hydrogen, BPNZ announces that Matt Fairlie will be joining as a as Senior Advisor, Hydrogen Development. Fairlie has experience with hydrogen systems. He was a founder of Next Hydrogen Corporation, served as CEO from 2015-18, and is currently vice-chair. Prior to that, he served as executive vice-president, founder and CTO of Stuart Energy; has served as a director and board vice-chairman of the National Hydrogen Association in Washington, DC; is founder and first chairman of Hydrogen Business Council of Canada; and has served on numerous other boards.
Fairlie received an MSc in Solid State Physics from the University of Toronto and a DBA from Queens University Kingston Canada. He holds 16 U.S. patents and has published more than 30 articles on hydrogen, renewable energy and climate change.
Through its current Expressions of Interest process, BPNZ is currently evaluating opportunities that leverage Ontario’s nuclear position for the purpose of producing clean energy or reducing carbon emissions in Ontario, including hydrogen initiatives.
