Canada is currently a world leading developer of fuel cell technology with corporations such as Ballard Power Systems (PEM), Hydrogenics Corp. (PEM), Fuel Cell Technologies (SOFC) and Global Thermoelectric (SOFC). By creating an early adopter community of technology developers and users throughout British Columbia, the Hydrogen Highway will play an integral role in removing barriers for hydrogen and fuel cell commercialization. The hydrogen highway concept began as early as mid-2002 with Methanex Corporation, BC Hydro and the NRC’s Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation. The announcement of the 2010 Whistler Olympics and the sustainability focus therein provided a stage to increase the profile of this project and turn it into an international showcase.

Today IFCI is working in partnership with UBC and FCC to establish a node at the institute and on the surrounding UBC Campus. Associated projects may include: A hydrogen fueling station and storage tower that will power several Ford Focus vehicles, a sustainable energy system- photovoltaic panels to produce solar energy powering an electrolyzer generating hydrogen to power a fuel cell providing back-up power to the new IFCI building at UBC, an SOFC providing heat and power to IFCI, hydrogen fueled ICE and hythane vehicles and hydrogen-powered gators at UBC and sustainable residential community feasibility studies and development in UBC’s surrounding area.

Also, NRC-IFCI is playing an integral role assisting each node with technological feasibility studies, data collection and analysis and technology integration. As a fuel cell technology centre, NRC-IFCI has vast expertise and facilities for fuel cell testing and evaluation and integration, including a one-of-a-kind Hydrogen-Ready Environmental Chamber. Through this role, NRC will help companies integrate the knowledge from these demonstration projects into the next generation of products, which is the focus of IFCI’s R&D program.