2G and Enbridge Gas Collaborate for North America's First 100% H2 CHP
New combined heat and power system will reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and advance Enbridge Gas’ hydrogen hub in Markham, Ontario
St. Augustine, September 2022 – 2G Energy Inc. (2G), along with Enbridge Gas Inc. (Enbridge Gas) and CEM Engineering, is pleased to announce that it will be installing a combined heat and power (CHP) system at the Enbridge Gas Technology and Operations Centre (TOC) facility in Markham, Ontario that has the capacity to run on 100 percent hydrogen energy. This is the first-of-its-kind project in North America, and its success will open the door for more hydrogen-powered projects across the province.
2G looks forward to working with Enbridge and CEM on this project that builds upon the success of Enbridge’s Power-to-Gas plant and hydrogen blending program, which will advance its hydrogen hub in Ontario. Innovative and collaborative solutions are needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and this project demonstrates Enbridge’s commitment to the energy transition.
CHP is an efficient and clean way of generating electric power and thermal energy from a single source. The onsite hydrogen energy is generated by an existing electrolyzer and piped to the state-of-the-art 2G CHP system, which will be engineered and constructed for the TOC by CEM. The engine drives the generator, producing electricity, and the residual heat created during this process is recaptured and turned into useful heat.
The process is nearly twice as efficient compared to traditional systems. With hydrogen fuel flexibility, this mature technology is being deployed as one of the most viable ways to green the building sector.
Once installed, the system will enable Enbridge to evaluate the feasibility of designing, building, operating, and maintaining a 115kW hydrogen-fueled system to support or replace up to 90 percent of the facility’s energy. The overall goal is to power the facility on a mix of hydrogen and natural gas, or on 100 percent of either fuel source. The transitional nature of the system optimizes efficient energy use and reduces emissions while maintaining maximum reliability.
The system will consume approximately 78,000 kg of hydrogen annually, and the expected greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction when it’s operating solely on hydrogen is approximately 133 tons of CO2e—that’s roughly equivalent to removing 28 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
While this project is smaller in scale, its implications are impressive. Building heat is the second largest source of GHG emissions in Ontario and contributes to over 31 percent of all GHG emissions globally. The CHP system has the potential to provide reliable, cost-effective, and clean energy to many different building types such as hospitals, manufacturing plants, airports, and hotels.
It’s also important to note that this system will initially rely on natural gas-fired generators in the event of an outage. However, CHP systems overall are extremely resilient when the power goes out, which is critical to industries such as healthcare and farming. They are also versatile and can be employed in a wide range of sizes, and have demonstrated compatibility with different applications, fuel sources, and technologies.
Quotes
"Green hydrogen is a viable contender in Ontario's shift to clean energy solutions. We are proud to work with 2G Energy to advance this technology and expand our hydrogen hub in Markham, Ontario. This is an important example of the investments Enbridge Gas is making across multiple markets to green the natural gas grid while continuing to meet the demand for safe, reliable, and affordable energy. " – Michele Harradence, President, Enbridge Gas Inc.
"Having already sold several hydrogen CHP units to European countries outside Germany and especially to Japan, we are now pleased that our hydrogen solutions are also gaining recognition in North America. Our first successful placement of a hydrogen CHP in North America is also an incentive to further strengthen and expand our global technology leadership in hydrogen." – Christian Grotholt, CEO, 2G Energy
“We are excited for the opportunity to support Enbridge’s commitment to Ontario and Canada to reduce carbon emissions while providing low-cost resilient energy. Having completed several successful natural gas-fueled CHP projects with Enbridge over the past several years this project represents the next phase of practical and reliable energy systems.” – Dan Jones, CEO, 2G Energy, North America
“We are thrilled to work with Enbridge, bringing our 20 years of experience developing and implementing CHP systems to show how hydrogen-fueled CHP can support North America’s energy transition, and pave the way for a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable Ontario.” – Lisa Katz, Director of Business Development & Marketing, CEM Engineering
“This is another great example of how investing in clean technologies will help secure a cleaner, more prosperous Ontario for generations to come. I commend Enbridge Gas, 2G Energy, and CEM Engineering for their leadership towards a low-carbon hydrogen economy that will create jobs and reduce emissions.” – David Piccini, Ontario’s Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
"Our government’s Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy has ensured Ontario is well-positioned to become a leader in the growing hydrogen economy. I commend Enbridge Gas on continuing to work on innovative solutions that are helping to transform its natural gas grid and support our work on building a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future for our province.” – Todd Smith, Ontario’s Minister of Energy
“I applaud Enbridge Gas, 2G Energy, and CEM Engineering on this exciting collaboration that reflects their bold vision and steady commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. Investing in this Hydrogen Hub in the City of Markham will boost our city’s energy security, resilience, and reduce emissions.” – Mayor of Markham, Frank Scarpitti
Key Facts
- The 115 kW CHP unit will be provided by 2G and will operate the H2CHP with a high blend of natural gas in the initial years.
- The annual consumption of the CHP plant will be approximately 78,000 kg of hydrogen The expected greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction is approximately 133 tonnes of CO2e annually when the system is being powered by 100 percent hydrogen—roughly equivalent to removing 28 passenger vehicles off the road each year.
- To learn more about hydrogen storage and blending visit enbridgegas.com/hydrogen.
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About 2G Energy
2G Energy is one of the leading international manufacturers of combined heat and power (CHP) systems for the decentralized generation of electricity and heat. 2G's product portfolio supports CHP projects with an electrical output of between 20 kW and up to 20MW for operation with natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen. 2G has its own combustion engine line with low fuel consumption, high availability, and optimized maintenance intervals and is the world’s first commercial 100 percent H2 capable system. 2G has successfully installed several thousand CHP plants worldwide and supports our projects with best-in-class service and support.
About Enbridge Gas Inc.
Enbridge Gas is Canada's largest natural gas storage, transmission, and distribution company based in Ontario, with over 170 years of service to customers. The distribution business provides safe, affordable, reliable energy to about 3.8 million customers and is leading the transition to a clean energy future through net-zero emissions targets and investments in innovative low-carbon energy solutions. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas is owned by Enbridge (ENB), a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. Learn more at enbridgegas.com.
Media contacts:
Krista Luxton, External Communications
Enbridge Gas Inc.
enbridgegasmedia@enbridge.com
Stefan Liesner, Head of Public Affairs and Public Relations
2G Energy
s.liesner@2-g.de
Kimberley Padro, Marketing Coordinator
2G Energy North America