World Energy GH2 has received approval from Newfoundland and Labrador authorities to continue its large-scale green hydrogen project Nujio’qonik.
The company announced the approval of the Crown land applications to build the first commercial-scale green hydrogen project in North America. and one of the first projects of its kind worldwide.
World Energy already owns the Port of Stephenville which has the land for the plant facility.
The Project Nujio’qonik is set to be developed on Newfoundland and Labrador’s west coast. Initially, it will feature two wind farms, each with a capacity of 1 GW, along with a hydrogen and ammonia facility at the Port of Stephenville.
Slated to start green hydrogen production by the end of 2025, this initiative is among the first of its kind to convert wind energy into green hydrogen on a commercial scale. Beyond the first two wind farms, the Crown Land grant also encompasses two more areas, allowing for up to 4GW of wind farms near the planned plant at the Port of Stephenville.
Read more: EverWind Fuels acquires three wind farms for green hydrogen production
Read more: Sinopec’s green hydrogen plant starts production in Xinjiang
The granting of Crown land leases is dependent on the completion of a provincial environmental assessment. Currently, Project Nujio’qonik stands as the only green hydrogen venture in Newfoundland and Labrador to have carried out the necessary evaluations and submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The EIS, the most rigorous form of Environmental Assessment in the province, took over 15 months of both field and desktop research to complete.
World Energy GH2 has received the green light for Crown land in both the Port au Port and Anguille Mountains/Codroy areas for the project’s initial stages. Approvals for expansion in the Long Range Mountains and along the Burgeo Highway have also been secured. The company is now initiating a dialogue and engagement process with communities located near the areas earmarked for future expansion.
“This past spring, we acquired the Port of Stephenville, and signed a USD$50 million investment agreement with SK ecoplant,” World Energy GH2 CEO Sean Leet said.
“Earlier this month, we submitted a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), we’ve now completed our pre-FEED (front-end engineering and design) work and are regularly discussing plans with potential suppliers, vendors and customers.”
Leet said the company has also “made progress” with its relationship with the Qalipu First Nation and local community bands and is now working toward the development of definitive agreements.
The next major milestone for Project Nujio’qonik will be the province’s response to the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which is expected this fall.
“We also look forward to further details from the federal government regarding the Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit (ITC) coverage and Contracts for Difference (CFD) mechanisms required to stand up this new clean energy industry in Canada,” Leet said.
Green hydrogen is a type of hydrogen gas that is produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric power. Unlike other methods of hydrogen production that rely on fossil fuels, green hydrogen is generated through a process called electrolysis, where electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. Because the electricity used in this process comes from renewable sources, the production of green hydrogen is considered to be environmentally friendly and does not emit greenhouse gases.
