Nova Scotia is abuzz with the promise of a green hydrogen revolution, with EverWind Fuels proposing to harness the province’s wind resources to produce green hydrogen and ammonia for export to Europe. The company’s CEO, Trent Vichie, sees it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for Nova Scotia to become a world leader in clean energy. The Canadian federal government has pledged a $125 million investment in EverWind through Export Development Canada, with additional federal tax credits potentially worth hundreds of millions.
However, the excitement is met with skepticism from Michael Liebreich, an energy expert and former advisor to the UN. In an interview with the Halifax Examiner, he questions the viability and logic behind the proposed hydrogen economy. Liebreich criticizes the notion of a pervasive hydrogen economy, arguing that while hydrogen is essential for certain industries like fertilizer production, its broader application is neither practical nor efficient.
Liebreich uses the analogy of a Swiss Army knife to describe hydrogen’s versatility, but points out that for most uses, there are more cost-effective and convenient solutions. He dismisses the idea of shipping hydrogen or ammonia from Canada to Germany as “ridiculous,” due to the inefficiency and cost of transportation and conversion processes.
With Nova Scotia’s current energy grid heavily reliant on fossil fuels, Liebreich suggests that the proposed wind projects should first focus on displacing coal and gas from the local grid and supporting electrification of transport and heating. He warns that diverting wind energy to produce hydrogen for export as fertilizer or energy is economically and environmentally absurd, especially given the inefficiencies and the need for significant subsidies.
Liebreich’s stance is that green hydrogen will play a role in decarbonization, but a limited one, primarily in industries where it is currently used and in sectors hard to decarbonize without it. He cautions against viewing hydrogen as a catch-all solution, emphasizing the need to prioritize electrification and grid investment over hydrogen hype.
In conclusion, while Nova Scotia’s green hydrogen projects have garnered political support and public funding, experts like Liebreich urge a more critical and informed approach, warning against the dangers of subsidy-driven projects and the misallocation of resources away from more effective decarbonization strategies.
Hydrogen hype is ramping up in Nova Scotia. | A Q and A with Michael Liebreich.
Source: Hydrogen hype: ‘History will have a good laugh’ at us – Halifax Examiner