(St. John's / Canada) – The Canadian World Energy GH2 Inc. has now completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the large-scale hydrogen project called “Nujio'qonik”. Project partner Qalipu First Nation participated by conducting several consultations on traditional land and resource use with the Mi'kmaq community. The entire environmental impact assessment process includes 27 studies and plans required by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
Newfoundland: Location of the project (screenshot from the Environment Assessment Registration) © World Energy GH2 Inc.
In addition, “great progress” has been made toward completing pre-FEED, the first phase of front-end engineering and design, said Sean Leet, managing director and CEO of World Energy. As reported, hydrogen production is to be set up on the west coast of the Canadian state of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) and put into operation from 2025. The electrolyser is powered by electricity from new wind power plants.
Purchased deep sea port in Stephenville
In June of this year, World Energy announced the purchase of the protected ice-free deep-sea port of Stephenville - a crucial piece of infrastructure for shipping ammonia made from green hydrogen to global markets, including Germany. “The Port of Stephenville is the cornerstone of our project and will position the Bay St. George region as a green energy hub,” said Sean Leet. World Energy will invest in the port, expand, modernize and operate it. Horizon Maritime Services will take over the administration and the employees will continue to be employed in their current roles.
“Green energy hub”: World Energy wants to invest in, expand, modernize and operate the port of Stephenville in Bay St. George. © Port Harmon Authority Ltd.
Shortly before the port purchase was announced, World Energy announced an investment agreement with Korean technology company SK Ecoplant in May. Accordingly, the environmental and energy division of the SK Group is acquiring a 50 percent stake in the World Energy GH20 Limited Partnership for $2 million.
The company has expertise in wind power and electrolysis. “Our investment in this project is a step towards producing the first green hydrogen and ammonia in 2025 and taking a leadership position in the fight against climate change,” said Kyung-il Park, CEO of SK Ecoplant. This is the first foreign investment in a Canadian green hydrogen project.
Investment volume of twelve billion dollars
The hydrogen production facility planned in Stephenville is expected to start with an output of 0,5 gigawatts. In the first phase, an onshore wind farm with 164 turbines and a cumulative output of one gigawatt will be built, along with the necessary infrastructure, for electricity production. The planned location for the wind turbines is the Port au Port peninsula, barely 15 minutes by car from Stephenville.
Possible locations of the wind turbines on Port au Port (screenshot from the Environment Assessment Registration) © World Energy GH2 Inc.
World Energy wants to invest twelve billion dollars in the project, which, when completed, will serve the global market with an electrolysis output of 1,5 gigawatts with 250.000 tons of green hydrogen annually. The project will create 1.800 direct jobs in construction, 300 direct jobs in operations and 3.500 indirect jobs, the company said in a statement. Stephenville itself has around 6.600 residents.
German-Canadian Alliance
In August 2022, Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck and Canadian Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson held a meeting in Stephenville in the presence of Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau agreement (“Canada-Germany Hydrogen Alliance”). Accordingly, the green hydrogen produced in the Canadian Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick is to be shipped to Germany in the form of ammonia. Although this is only a “non-binding” declaration of intent, it is unlikely that either side will change its mind; after all, the states are hoping for technological progress and sales.
Federal Economics Minister Habeck and Energy Minister Wilkinson after the signing of the German-Canadian Hydrogen Agreement in the presence of the two heads of government Trudeau and Scholz. © Federal Government/Denzel
“Just nine months after the signing of the hydrogen alliance, trade and export talks between Canada and Germany are moving forward,” says World Energy CEO John Risley. SK Ecoplant's investment reflects trust in the alliance and also shows “how quickly this new important industry is developing”.
Photos
In June, World Energy GH2 announced the purchase of the ice-free deepwater port in Stephenville from Port Harmon Authority Ltd. The site in Bay St. George on Newfoundland and Labrador will be managed by Horizon Maritime Services. The port plays an important role in World Energy's plans to ship green ammonia to Germany. © Port Harmon Authority Ltd.
