First-of-its-kind hydrogen project to launch in Saskatchewan

A first-of-its-kind hydrogen project is set to start up in Saskatchewan under the Saskatchewan Petroleum Innovation Incentive (SPII).

In a release, Saskatchewan Energy and Resources says the process developed by Proton Technologies will extract hydrogen from existing oil reservoirs in the province, while leaving carbon dioxide trapped in the ground.

This will be the first commercial deployment of its kind in the world. It also has the potential to repurpose abandoned wells, fields and facilities.

“Saskatchewan is a leader in the natural resource sector and continues to pilot new developments and technologies that benefit both the economy and the environment,” Energy and Resources Minister Bronwyn Eyre said in the release.

“This hydrogen project is a win-win; it has a low cost structure and will emit zero emissions.”

The SPII deals with projects that are designed to improve oil and gas recovery, and manage environmental impacts, value-added processing and production byproduct commercialization.

“Our province looks forward to being the home of the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen oil reservoir extraction technology,” Kindersley MLA Ken Francis said in the release.

“This project already employees 14 people in the Kerrobert area and has the potential to employ up to 30 people by the end of the year, and lead to further economic diversification and growth, despite these challenging times.”

The release indicated the hydrogen market is expanding around the world, with increasing use in power generation, transportation fuel and feedstock in the chemical industry.