The Ontario government is funding a second project in Windsor as it looks for ways to integrate hydrogen into the province's electricity grid.
Energy Minister Todd Smith announced $5.9-million in funding for nine new projects, including $206,300 for Capital Power to investigate the feasibility of blending hydrogen with natural gas. It has facilities in Windsor, Brampton, and Newmarket.
"Natural gas currently performs a critical role in keeping the lights on during periods of peak demand, and we are investing now in new technologies like hydrogen that could help meet this demand going forward," said Smith.
Last month, the government announced $130,000 for the University of Windsor. Researchers are studying how hydrogen produced by wind power can supply the electricity grid and the greenhouse sector.
So far, 15 projects have received funding, including the six new ones announced on Thursday.
Capital Power will get another $150,000 to study how feasible it is to produce and store low-carbon hydrogen produced by wind to fuel a hybrid hydrogen-methane turbine in Goderich.
Researchers at Western University will test solar-generated hydrogen and biogas-generated hydrogen at a demonstration site. They'll get $498,000 for that project.
Others announced today include two at York University to study retrofitting existing gas turbine generators with a blend of natural gas and hydrogen and analyzing the potential of installing low-carbon hydrogen facilities across Ontario.
Atura Power in Halton will receive $4.1-million, another $491,352 will go to Volta Energy in Toronto, and $101,205 will go to the Transition Accelerator in Hamilton. The ninth project, HydroMega Services in Cochrane, will receive $100,000.
"Decarbonizing Ontario's electricity system and economy will require contributions from new and emerging resources," said the President and CEO of the Independent Electricity System Operator, Lesley Gallinger. "The IESO is looking forward to tracking the results of the Hydrogen Innovation Fund projects to determine hydrogen's viability as a grid resource."
The government announced the $15-million fund in February.
