HTEC has opened British Columbia’s first commercial-scale clean hydrogen electrolyzer in Burnaby.

The new facility marks a major step in the province’s transition to a low-carbon economy and serves as a key component of HTEC’s growing hydrogen hub in Metro Vancouver, said the company. Electrolysis is a key part of the hydrogen-production process.

“This facility marks a major milestone–not just for HTEC but for British Columbia and Canada’s clean-energy transition,” said Colin Armstrong, HTEC’s president and CEO. “By producing clean hydrogen at scale, we’re cutting emissions today and paving the way for a zero-emission transportation future. It’s the result of deep collaboration across government and industry.”

The Canada Infrastructure Bank invested in the project as part of a previously announced $337-million low-interest loan tied to HTEC’s hydrogen-liquefaction facility development in North Vancouver, B.C., and two other hydrogen production facilities that the company is developing in Nanaimo, B.C., and Prince George, B.C.

HTEC’s acquisition is tied to a $337-million investment that the hydrogen production and distribution company received from Canada Infrastructure Bank. The investment, in the form of a loan, will finance the development of the liquefaction plant on the acquired property and three new hydrogen production facilities in the B.C. communities of Burnaby, Nanaimo and Prince George.

The National Research Council; the B.C. government, through the energy ministry and electrical utility BC Hydro; and PacifiCan, the federal government’s Pacific region economic development arm, provided additional unspecified support to the new Burnaby plant.

“The launch of HTEC’s hydrogen fuel technology in Burnaby confirms B.C.’s role as Canada’s hydrogen hub,” said B.C. Premier David Eby. “Replacing diesel with clean fuels like hydrogen is a win-win; it helps reduce harmful transportation pollution, while creating new jobs and opportunities.

The plant provides a reliable, locally produced supply of clean hydrogen to fuel HTEC’s station network and fleet customers. It integrates hydrogen production through electrolysis with a fully operational liquid-hydrogen gasification system, ensuring supply redundancy. Together, the systems can produce 1.8 tonnes of clean hydrogen per day.

Hydrogen from the one-tonne-per-day electrolyzer could cut transportation-related emissions by more than 10,000 tonnes of annually. Powered by BC Hydro’s primarily renewable hydroelectric grid, the hydrogen has a carbon intensity of less than 18 gCO₂e/MJ—representing roughly a 90% emissions reduction compared to gasoline or diesel when used in fuel cell electric vehicles.

The facility, which also supports industrial customers seeking to decarbonize operations, was developed with support from the Canada Infrastructure Bank, PacifiCan, the National Research Council of Canada, the B.C. Ministry of Energy and Climate Solutions, and BC Hydro.

The development advances HTEC’s broader efforts to expand clean-hydrogen infrastructure across the province through its H2 Gateway Program.

North Vancouver, B.C.-based HTEC develops, owns and operates hydrogen production and distribution facilities, including fuelling stations in B.C. and Alberta.

Pictured: Colin Armstrong, president and CEO of HTEC (left), and others celebrate the official opening of the Future HTEC hydrogen liquefaction plant on newly acquired land in North Vancouver, B.C.

Image: Courtesy of HTEC