Powering a Cleaner Future – One Hydrogen Hub at a Time
Building and operating a network of safe, reliable low-carbon hydrogen production and refueling facilities across Western Canada, starting in Brooks, Alberta.
The Brooks Newell Hydrogen Hub
In partnership with the County of Newell and the City of Brooks, IEPS is developing Alberta’s first integrated hydrogen production and refueling facility, the Brooks Newell Hydrogen Hub (“Hub”).
The Hub will be the first in a network of hydrogen production and refueling facilities focused on serving initially the Alberta and eventually the Western Canadian transportation sector.
Developing each hub in close coordination the regional hydrogen market will be critical to long-term success.
Meeting Industry’s Needs for Hydrogen
For many Alberta companies, the trucks and other vehicles they use in their operations are their most significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Using hydrogen as an alternative to diesel allows Alberta’s fleet owners to provide their customers with low GHG emission transportation services.
Located close to two major highway networks in south central Alberta, the proposed Hub is specifically designed to meet the hydrogen refueling needs of the transportation and other industrial sectors.
The Opportunity
Currently, there are more than 40,000 heavy-duty Class 8 diesel fueled trucks and several thousand agricultural and heavy-duty construction vehicles operating in Alberta.
With each converted vehicle expected to use as much as 20 kg hydrogen per day, the potential market for hydrogen refueling in Alberta, and eventually in western Canada, is massive.
Our Customers
The Brooks Newell Hub will initially serve regional trucking and heavy equipment operators who have adopted dual-fuel technology through a County of Newell pilot program. The Hub is built to provide these operators with a reliable, accessible, and competitively priced hydrogen supply.
As demand for low-emission transportation grows, we expect these early adopters to increase their hydrogen use. We also anticipate additional demand from operators outside the County program as the shift to cleaner fuels accelerates.
Beyond transportation, each Hub will support local agricultural, industrial, and oil and gas operations with on-site hydrogen supply tailored to their energy needs.
Environmental Goals
Actively displacing diesel fuel with hydrogen results in a net reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a competitive price. And while reducing GHG emissions is a primary goal, other potential environmental effects must be considered as well.
IEPS will produce hydrogen using electrolysers powered by renewable electricity, resulting in zero GHG emissions at the point of production.
Water conservation is another key priority. With increasing focus across Western Canada on efficient water use and protecting regional aquatic ecosystems, the Hub is designed to maximize the use of air cooling and minimize water consumption.
Stakeholder Engagement
IEPS is committed to becoming a respected member of each community where we operate. We believe that listening to, understanding and addressing public concerns is an essential part of receiving a social licence to operate. Furthermore, this engagement process must not just occur during the project development stage but rather continue over the life of the project.
Our Commitment to Safety
Safety is a shared responsibility at IEPS, integral to both management and employee roles.
Management’s responsibilities include:
- Fostering a strong safety culture where employees feel empowered to voice concerns and suggest improvements.
- Developing and maintaining safe work procedures that align with industry best practices and all relevant federal, provincial, and municipal regulations.
At IEPS, safety isn’t just a policy — it’s how we work, every day.
Why Alberta
Alberta offers several unique features that make investment in the production of hydrogen from water and renewable electricity both technically and economically attractive. These include:
- Strong provincial support for the technologies, infrastructure and policies needed to produce a successful hydrogen refueling network.
- Strong support from local governments and regional industries that rely on third party transportation for moving to low emission vehicles.
- A significant North American advantage in the development and application of dual fuel technologies.
- A competitive hourly electricity market along with substantial existing renewable electricity generation capacity.
Our Team
Greg Baden
President
greg@ieps.ca
Greg brings to the Project over 40 years of professional experience ranging from project and business development to marketing of gas and power.
Frank Bajc
VP Operations
frank@ieps.ca
Frank has over 40 years of experience in process operation and project management including steam methane reforming operations and hydrogen from waste to energy technology development.
Brian Bietz
VP Corporate Development
brian@ieps.ca
Brian brings to this role over 40 years of senior involvement in all aspects of the Alberta approval process for energy projects, including the design and development of numerous successful regulatory applications.