BRITISH COLUMBIA – The Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) announced the completion of landmark, multi-jurisdictional studies that provide a comprehensive view of supply, demand, and trade flow potential for low-carbon hydrogen across the Pacific Northwest. The cross-border Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Analysis was commissioned by Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, and the Alberta Hydrogen Analysis was commissioned by the Government of Alberta.
The studies were conducted by Deloitte and developed to enable policymakers, industry stakeholders, Indigenous and Tribal Nations, and regional partners to better understand the economic landscape, funding tools and policy frameworks that support the development and deployment of hydrogen. Together, these studies serve as a resource to help develop robust cross-border hydrogen economies that attract investment, enable multi-sector uses and support high-quality jobs across the region.
“The Pacific Northwest has long been at the forefront of energy innovation,” Matt Morrison, PNWER executive director, said. “These new hydrogen studies build on this momentum and chart a path for how we can work together across jurisdictional borders to build an interconnected, low-carbon hydrogen economy that competes on the global stage.”
Pacific Northwest Low-Carbon Hydrogen Analysis
British Columbia and Washington state are demonstrated leaders in planning for and investing in low-carbon hydrogen economies to drive growth, diversify energy tools and enhance regional energy resilience. This first-of-its-kind study explores cross-border collaboration opportunities that leverage geographic proximity and existing relationships to drive economic growth, infrastructure development and hydrogen accessibility.
“Washington is a clean hydrogen leader nationally and internationally. We recognize the important role clean hydrogen plays in reducing harmful emissions, bringing good jobs to the state, and strengthening our robust clean technology industry,” Commerce Director Joe Nguyen said. “By building on our longstanding relationship with British Columbia and working more closely together, we can boost clean hydrogen market growth in our region and amplify its positive impacts here at home and across the broader Pacific Northwest.”
“Low-carbon hydrogen is part of a sustainable, clean energy future,” Adrian Dix, Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, said. “Through B.C.’s Clean Energy and Major Projects Office, we are working with project proponents, industry, First Nations and local communities to create a world-leading hydrogen economy, and this collaborative work will help all of us in the Pacific Northwest to achieve that milestone.”
Each jurisdiction is critically positioned with alternative electricity grids and existing hydrogen technology expertise that supports infrastructure and energy development. The Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association (PNWH2), part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program, plans to build eight hydrogen hubs across Washington, Oregon and Montana over the next 6-10 years.
Key Recommendations:
- Share data and coordinate planning of hydrogen projects and initiatives across jurisdictions in the Pacific Northwest.
- Evaluate opportunities to harmonize policies to facilitate cross-border hydrogen development, including funding mechanisms and seamless trade.
- Support ways to involve, partner with and benefit Tribes, First Nations and communities. This includes educational resources, associations and collaboration to uplift indigenous voices.
- Advance regional hubs and cross-jurisdictional corridors for aligned hydrogen and synthetic fuel use.
Commerce’s Green Electrolytic Hydrogen and Renewable Fuels Recommendations for Deployment in Washington Legislative Report (January 2024) informed study results. In recognition of shifting federal policy in the U.S. and Canada, the study emphasizes state/provincial-level planning and coordination between British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho.
Alberta Hydrogen Analysis
The Government of Alberta launched its Hydrogen Roadmap in 2021, which outlines a comprehensive strategy for hydrogen production, research and development, carbon capture and use cases across sectors. The new Alberta Hydrogen Analysis expands these efforts by putting forward recommendations to enhance Alberta’s hydrogen funding and regulatory landscape, support new and existing hydrogen hubs, assess potential for hydrogen-fueled transportation, and explore export potential to other Pacific Northwest provinces and states. The Government of Alberta will take the Alberta Hydrogen Analysis into advisement as it revisits the Hydrogen Roadmap in 2025.
“Hydrogen can be a game changer for Alberta and the Pacific Northwest’s energy diversity and security. The results of this research will inform Alberta’s Hydrogen strategy and create new partnerships, all while advancing innovation to ensure Alberta’s hydrogen economy continues to develop. Alberta will continue to grow as a Canadian and global leader in low-cost clean hydrogen production.” Brian Jean, Minister of Energy and Minerals, said.
Alberta has a well-established hydrogen value chain with hydrogen hubs in Edmonton, Calgary and other locations. The Government of Alberta aims to expand hubs in Alberta and the greater region to develop a comprehensive network of integrated hydrogen supply chains. Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho are expected to see significant increase in demand for hydrogen by 2050, giving rise to bi-lateral trade capacity and necessary cross-border cooperation. Alberta is the jurisdictional host for the 2026 PNWER Annual Summit in Edmonton next year.
Key Recommendations:
- Ensure regulatory efficiency, codes and standards in a governance toolkit tailored to hydrogen hub operations.
- Lead a formal platform for hydrogen hubs across Canada to share knowledge and best practices.
- Build new market demand by implementing incentives and support tools to reduce hydrogen adoption barriers.
- Fund research and development opportunities to lower costs through technology, innovation and attract capital investment.
- Pursue hydrogen exports by conducting assessments on transportation logistics corridors to identify bottlenecks and investment opportunities.
- Enable carbon capture, utilization and storage to reduce lifecycle emissions and support low-carbon certification.
- Activate technology and innovation to underpin a successful long-term hydrogen economy strategy.
Both studies were presented in a session at the PNWER Annual Summit in Bellevue, Washington, and will be made available for online viewing. Policymakers, Tribal and First Nations, and industry leaders are encouraged to engage with the findings and participate in upcoming engagement activities.
Using these studies as a foundation, PNWER aims to lead the establishment of a Pacific Northwest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and Montana Renewables. Modeled after the Minnesota SAF hub, the coalition will convene regional stakeholders in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and western Canada to support the production, storage and deployment of SAF in the Pacific Northwest. The coalition is planned to meet in late summer 2025.
The Pacific Northwest Low-Carbon Hydrogen Analysis was supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act. The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work, reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov. PNWER gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, and the Province of Alberta through the Ministry of Energy and Minerals and Ministry of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction.
Report Resources
The full Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Analysis and Alberta Hydrogen Analysis at www.pnwer.org/h2-study.
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