The District of North Vancouver is recommending approval of a development permit for a hydrogen liquefaction facility that would turn industrial waste gas into clean fuel for vehicles.
Hydrogen Technology and Energy Corporation (HTEC) plans to build the new facility at 100 Forester Street, using hydrogen from the neighbouring ERCO plant to produce up to 15 tonnes of liquid hydrogen daily. The project will use refrigeration technology to cool hydrogen to -253°C and load it for transport in four trucks per day.
“This project represents a significant investment in the District,” staff write in a report to the council. The plant is expected to generate over $40 million in annual revenue, create 15 permanent jobs and more than 35 construction-related roles, and help maintain 40 jobs at the ERCO facility.
To support the project, HTEC will contribute nearly $173,000 to the District’s public art fund and cover development charges totalling over $450,000 across the District, Metro Vancouver, and TransLink. The company will also fund improvements to Forester Street, including a water main upgrade, sidewalk extensions, and better vehicle access. District staff say the plant will cut an estimated 1.41 million tonnes of carbon dioxide over the next decade by repurposing waste hydrogen into clean fuel for hydrogen-powered electric vehicles.
Public feedback gathered last summer raised questions about hydrogen fueling stations, the hydrogen source and safety concerns about hydrogen storage. The facility will store up to 180,000 gallons in two tanks. According to a Quantitative Risk Assessment, the risk of an ignition or explosion is extremely low—estimated at once every 10 million years, the report notes.
Staff say the proposal does not raise the current risk profile for the Maplewood Village Centre. Safety systems include pressure relief valves, detection systems, a water deluge system, and a full emergency response plan. However, an independent engineer will peer-review the safety assessments before DNV issues construction permits. Council is set to vote on issuing the permit at a meeting tomorrow.
The DNV staff report says “The project does not increase the area’s current risk profile, including Maplewood Village Centre”. That is neither a testable nor quantifiable claim. It is highly unlikely that a hydrogen production plant would have zero impact on the surrounding community. Such claims are typical marketing language and should be treated with healthy skepticism, especially from a scientific or engineering standpoint. It is my understanding that natural gas is used to produce the hydrogen – which means there will be CO2 emissions. 180,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen stored on-site is a very significant volume of liquid hydrogen and is capable of a very large explosion under worst-case conditions. That the area is vulnerable to a large earthquake should raise significant concerns, especially with a chlorine plant just steps away!