News Release: Atlantic Canada hosts inaugural Gas Energy Futures Forum
November 22, 2023
NEWS RELEASE
Atlantic Canada hosts inaugural Gas Energy Futures Forum
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA), along with Fleet Zero, Atlantica Centre for Energy, and Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance, hosted an innovation forum to discuss the role of natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG), and hydrogen (H2) in Atlantic Canada’s energy future. Funding support for the forum was provided by Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Fuel Awareness Program, QUEST Canada, and CGA.
The Gas Energy Futures Forum brought together a diverse group of leaders and experts from the natural gas, RNG, and H2 industries to discuss these low carbon gases and their potential application for Atlantic Canada’s energy future. The highlights of the event included:
- A keynote morning panel discussion where speakers provided insights about the North American and Atlantic Canadian natural gas markets, the emerging opportunities for RNG and H2, and the potential of natural gas to reduce emissions.
- A H2 innovation showcase, hosted by FleetZero, for transportation that profiled low carbon solutions to meet local and regional transportation needs including panels on: hydrogen vehicles; infrastructure solutions; and transportation, refuelling and storage solutions.
- A workshop titled “Raising awareness and confidence in RNG and H2” which sought to identify current communications challenges and solutions for them.
Quotes
"Atlantic Canada's energy transition will rely on access to fuels as well as electricity, and a strong natural gas network continues to be an important regional energy asset. We are excited about the opportunities to develop hydrogen, renewable natural gas and other low carbon fuels to support domestic decarbonization efforts."
- Michelle Robichaud, President, Atlantica Energy Centre
“The transition to a prosperous low-carbon economy in Atlantic Canada will require an economically viable clean hydrogen value chain. Events such as the Innovation Forum provide important opportunities to highlight the region’s potential.”
- John Hawkins, Chair, Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance
“FleetZero believes that the decarbonization of transport within Atlantic Canada is a transition that requires a level of collaboration as demonstrated by today’s Innovation Forum. Together we can develop a made-for-Atlantic Canada ecosystem while also ensuring local policy makers, fleets, industry, fleets and community organizations are all aligned towards a low carbon future.”
- Sherena Hussain, Chief Operating Officer, FleetZero.
“Natural gas is the fastest growing source of energy use in Canada and a strategic energy source for both our domestic customers and a growing international market. The gas energy industry is committed to constant innovation to improve its service offering all while continuing to improve and lead on environmental performance. Our work with NRCan on RNG and H2 is part of that commitment.”
- Paul Cheliak, VP Strategy and Delivery, Canadian Gas Association.
For more information and media enquiries please contact:
Atlantica Centre for Energy
Michelle Robichaud
Michelle.Robichaud@AtlanticaEnergy.org
FleetZero
Sherena Hussain
Sherena@fleetzero.ai
Canadian Gas Association
Meeta Singh
MSingh@cga.ca
Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance
Derek Estabrook
destabrook@eastwardenergy.com
About Atlantica Centre for Energy
Atlantica Centre for Energy provides a unique meeting ground for industry, government, the education and research sectors, and the community at large to foster partnerships and proactively engage in energy-related issues. As the voice for energy in the region, the Centre’s membership represents some of the largest employers, energy producers, distributors, and consumers in the region.
About Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance
In the pursuit of regional hydrogen opportunities and to address the challenges, the Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance (AHA) has been created to support the development of an economically-viable clean hydrogen value chain that will enable the transition to a prosperous low-carbon economy in Atlantic Canada.
About FleetZero
FleetZero offers advisory and turnkey solutions to simplify the energy transition for fleet owners and transport stakeholders. It offers feasibility studies and implementation services, ranging from developing vehicle specifications to maintenance policies and standard operating procedures. FleetZero leverages its team of global fleet and infrastructure experts, deep ecosystem networks, and scalable, AI-enhanced technology solutions that have leading, real-world understanding of duty cycles across light to heavy duty vehicle models. More information can be found at www.fleetzero.ai
About the Canadian Gas Association
The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) is the voice of Canada’s gaseous energy delivery industry, including natural gas, renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen. CGA membership includes energy distribution and transmission companies, equipment manufacturers, and suppliers of goods and services to the industry. CGA’s utility members are Canadian-owned and active in eight provinces and one territory. The Canadian natural gas delivery industry meets 38 per cent of Canada’s energy needs through a network of 584,000 kilometers of underground infrastructure. The versatility and resiliency of this infrastructure allows it to deliver an ever-changing gas supply mix to 7.6 million customer locations representing approximately two-thirds of Canadians. CGA members ensure Canadians get the affordable, reliable, clean gaseous energy they want and need. CGA is also working to constantly improve that gaseous energy offering, by driving forward innovation through the Natural Gas Innovation Fund (NGIF).