Wednesday, March 19, 2025
The Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has announced an investment of more than $3.3 million in Gazifère Inc. for a clean fuels project in Gatineau, Quebec, for a total joint project cost shared with municipality, of over $7.3 million.
The investment will support Gazifère in conducting a hydrogen blending feasibility study. Specifically, the study will assess the development of a water electrolysis facility that would allow for the injection of low-carbon hydrogen to help decarbonize Gazifère’s gas distribution network across the Outaouais region.
This project is estimated to reduce emissions by over 18,000 tonnes annually by displacing nearly 10 million cubic metres of conventional gas per year. Gazifère will seek further emissions reductions through waste-heat recovery.
This investment will help unlock growth in Canada’s clean fuels market and lay the groundwork for the low-carbon fuels of the future. These initiatives are important to the growth of Canada’s clean fuels industry in order to keep pace with the global demand to act on climate change while bolstering energy security and delivering affordability.
“This hydrogen blending feasibility project will help advance the decarbonization of Gazifère’s gas distribution network while creating jobs and unlocking innovation in Canada’s clean fuels market,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources.
The federal government is supporting efforts to establish Canada as a global supplier of choice for clean energy in a net-zero world, boasting one of the world’s most comprehensive and detailed climate plans, a wealth of natural resources and a skilled workforce — ensuring a prosperous and clean future for Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
“This important announcement unveils a $3.3-million investment in Gazifère Inc.’s clean energy project, demonstrating Canada’s commitment to overcoming barriers in the clean energy market for gas grids, industrials and heavy transportation. This strategic regional initiative accelerates our path to global leadership in clean energy, fostering a prosperous, clean future,” said Steven MacKinnon, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Gatineau.
Federal funding was provided through Natural Resources Canada’s Clean Fuels Fund (CFF), which supports building new and expanding existing clean fuel production facilities, including hydrogen, renewable diesel, synthetic fuels, renewable natural gas and sustainable aviation fuel. The fund also supports feasibility and front-end engineering and design (FEED) studies that will create jobs and enable the sector to grow at the size and pace required to contribute to Canada’s climate goals.
“We welcome the support of Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Steven Mackinnon, Member of Parliament for the Canadian House of Commons, for our regional decarbonization project in the Outaouais region,” said Jean-Benoit Trahan, president of Gazifère Inc.
“Together, with the announcement of this investment from the federal government for our hydrogen project, we are building a sustainable energy future. This is a major step toward the realization of a large-scale project that will significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus offer green energy at reasonable cost for many uses, such as transportation, the industrial sector and the greening of the gas grid. This project brings together local and regional partners to shape an innovative and responsible energy transition in the Outaouais region.”
Launched in June 2021, the Clean Fuels Fund aims to invest $1.5 billion to grow the production of clean fuels in Canada, such as hydrogen, renewable diesel and natural gas, cellulosic ethanol, synthetic fuels and sustainable aviation fuel.
Featured image credit: Getty Images.
