Making Calgary's Energy Mix More Sustainable
Hydrogen Blending Project
Driving Sustainability, Powering Progress
Our Hydrogen Blending Pilot
Calgary District Heating is proud to be partnered with TC Energy and the City of Calgary for a pioneering hydrogen blending initiative to prepare our system to use hydrogen as a fuel source, alongside natural gas, for the production of thermal energy currently heating over 6 million square feet of space in downtown Calgary and East Village.
This innovative pilot project involves modifying our District Energy Centre to allow for the blending of hydrogen with our existing natural gas supply, to be combusted within our high-efficiency natural gas hot water boilers, used for space heating and domestic hot water. This enables us to be on the forefront of Calgary’s energy transitions providing our customers and the community energy solutions for a low-carbon future.
By blending up to 20% hydrogen with our existing natural gas supply with our facility, we are able to optimize our equipment and operations to accept a long-term supply of hydrogen as part of our feedstock, among other low-to-no carbon energy technologies we are adopting.
Fueling a Prosperous, Eco-Conscious Calgary
Advantages of Hydrogen Blending
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Energy Security
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)
Utilization of Existing Infrastructure
Hydrogen blending helps reduce the carbon footprint of the District Energy System as blending it with natural gas can provide a cleaner energy source than natural gas alone. This contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions in our community associated with space heating and domestic hot water needs.
By diversifying our energy mix with hydrogen, Calgary District Heating can reduce its dependence on single energy sources, enhancing energy security and resilience. And by doing so, District Energy can rapidly integrate low-to-no carbon fuels that benefit an entire community all at once.
As carbon pricing increases, the use of low-carbon fuels such as hydrogen can lead to improved energy efficiency which support Environmental, Social, and Governance goals compared to higher-emitting fuels. This can be important to tenants, owners, businesses, and citizens looking to manage their impacts on the community.
As natural gas infrastructure transitions to include the distribution of hydrogen with natural gas, this will allow further utilization existing pipelines and open pathways for wider option of hydrogen in our community.
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Hydrogen blending helps reduce the carbon footprint of the District Energy System as blending it with natural gas can provide a cleaner energy source than natural gas alone. This contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions in our community associated with space heating and domestic hot water needs.
Energy Security
By diversifying our energy mix with hydrogen, Calgary District Heating can reduce its dependence on single energy sources, enhancing energy security and resilience. And by doing so, District Energy can rapidly integrate low-to-no carbon fuels that benefit an entire community all at once.
Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
Utilization of Existing Infrastructure
Hydrogen Blending
How it Works
01 Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen can be produced in a variety of ways from water to natural gas. To be used in bulk form, hydrogen is compressed and stored in tanks to allow of ease of transporting via truck or rail. Hydrogen can also be distributed in a pipeline independently or alongside natural gas. For our pilot, we are utilizing bulk hydrogen provided by truck and trailer.
Hydrogen has a very high energy density. A small volume of hydrogen can store a significant amount of energy.
02 Existing Gas System
Because burning 100% pure hydrogen is not commercially feasible at this time we need to blend hydrogen with our existing natural gas supply. Our existing equipment is capable of accepting 20% hydrogen blended with natural gas giving us the versatility to use this alternate fuel while still utilizing Calgary’s robust natural gas network.
Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal and oil.
03 Hydrogen Transfer
Utilizing bulk hydrogen requires the fuel to be compressed for transport. As a result, a specialized and highly engineered skid is used to transfer the compressed hydrogen from the trailer and control the blend of hydrogen into the District Energy Centre natural gas supply. This equipment is responsible for blending the precise ratio of the gases allowing for efficient combusting within our boilers.
Includes flow meters, pressure regulators, and control systems.
04 District Energy Hot Water Boilers
Once blended, this hydrogen-enriched natural gas is delivered to our high-efficiency hot water boilers and combusted to create thermal energy for our customers. The result will enables us to create more sustainable and efficient sources of heat that reduces the carbon intensity of our community with low-to-no carbon sources of hydrogen in the future.
High-efficiency boilers produce a total of 22MWt.
- 01 Hydrogen Storage
- 02 Existing Gas Sytem
- 03 Hydrogen Transfer
- 04 Hot Water Boilers
01 Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen can be produced in a variety of ways from water to natural gas. To be used in bulk form, hydrogen is compressed and stored in tanks to allow of ease of transporting via truck or rail. Hydrogen can also be distributed in a pipeline independently or alongside natural gas. For our pilot, we are utilizing bulk hydrogen provided by truck and trailer.
Hydrogen has a very high energy density. A small volume of hydrogen can store a significant amount of energy.
02 Existing Gas System
Because burning 100% pure hydrogen is not commercially feasible at this time we need to blend hydrogen with our existing natural gas supply. Our existing equipment is capable of accepting 20% hydrogen blended with natural gas giving us the versatility to use this alternate fuel while still utilizing Calgary’s robust natural gas network.
Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal and oil.
03 Hydrogen Transfer
Utilizing bulk hydrogen requires the fuel to be compressed for transport. As a result, a specialized and highly engineered skid is used to transfer the compressed hydrogen from the trailer and control the blend of hydrogen into the District Energy Centre natural gas supply. This equipment is responsible for blending the precise ratio of the gases allowing for efficient combusting within our boilers.
Includes flow meters, pressure regulators, and control systems.
04 District Energy Hot Water Boilers
Once blended, this hydrogen-enriched natural gas is delivered to our high-efficiency hot water boilers and combusted to create thermal energy for our customers. The result will enables us to create more sustainable and efficient sources of heat that reduces the carbon intensity of our community with low-to-no carbon sources of hydrogen in the future.
High-efficiency boilers produce a total of 22MWt.
The New Energy of Calgary
Low Carbon, High Impact
Calgary District Heating is proud partners with TC Energy and the City of Calgary in this innovative hydrogen blending project. We continually seek opportunities to apply new technologies and processes towards our goal of connecting Calgary to sustainable energy.
