Quick Facts—Wind Energy for Hydrogen and Ammonia Production In Nova Scotia
Hydrogen
The Canadian and Nova Scotia governments are actively engaging in establishing and promoting a green hydrogen economy. Our government offers startup companies large financing and substantial tax incentives for green hydrogen development. The large-scale wind turbine farms and offshore wind required to sustain this questionable answer to climate change (green hydrogen production) can’t help but have long-lasting detrimental effects on the environment, biodiversity, and marine life.
While climate change demands an emergency response, proceeding too fast without evidence-based decisions could undermine decarbonizing efforts.
Quick Facts—Wind Energy for Hydrogen
and Ammonia Production In Nova Scotia Information Sheet (PDF).
1. The majority of the wind turbines planned for Nova Scotia in the next five years are intended to power hydrogen production for export, rather than to help meet the Province’s 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Experts agree that prioritizing decarbonization locally should come first before using renewable energy for export purposes.
Related sources…
Deloitte suggests, “Regions such as North America should address domestic markets first before turning more extensively toward exports.” in Atlantic Business first of a nine-part series.
Atlantic Business Beyond the Hype—Atlantic Canada’s Hydrogen Reality (June 26, 2023), read more.
2. The Province is touting “green” hydrogen as an “alternative energy for a strong economy and clean environment”. The reality is that hydrogen is a chemical, not an energy source. It takes over five times more wind energy to produce hydrogen than it does to use that same wind energy to directly power heat pumps in Nova Scotia homes.
Related sources…
The production of green hydrogen requires large amounts of renewable energy.
Environmental Defense Fund Rule #1 deploying hydrogen: Electricity first (January 30, 2023), read more.
Hydrogen for heating? Considering the storage solution
Hydrogen Science Coalition Hydrogen for heating? Considering the storage solution (Part 3) (December 22, 2023), read more.
3. The scale of the proposed hydrogen projects poses significant risks to Nova Scotia’s land and water resources. The technology for large-scale hydrogen production via electrolysis remains untested. Despite potential severe environmental impacts from releases and spills, the Point Tupper hydrogen plants have only been subject to less rigorous Class 1 provincial environmental assessments.
Related sources…
Paul Martin talks about problems With Hydrogen.
CleanTechnica Paul Martin talks H2 science coalition & more problems with hydrogen (November 12, 2023), read more.
It is essential to understand how hydrogen can contribute to climate change.
Environmental Defense Fund For hydrogen to be a climate solution, leaks must be tackled, read more.
4. At the scale proposed, the hydrogen plants will require constant energy. Given the intermittent nature of wind as an energy source, these plants will rely on the Nova Scotia power grid, which is already near capacity and reliant on coal, for back-up power. Under EU regulations hydrogen production that uses fossil fuels for backup can not be called green.
Related sources…
The European Union (EU) rules for renewable hydrogen
European Parliament EU rules for renewable hydrogen (April, 2023), read more.
5. To be economically viable, hydrogen/ammonia projects require massive taxpayer-dollar support. The federal government is expected to spend over 27 billion via tax credits and infrastructure dollars towards hydrogen export projects in Nova Scotia, even though these projects have yet to secure markets for their hydrogen export. We urge reallocating these taxpayer dollars to local green energy projects.
Related sources…
Halifax Examiner Export Development Canada quietly finalizes loan to EverWind Fuels — not for $125 million but $166 million (December 27, 2023), read more.
6. Hydrogen/ammonia projects require huge industrial wind turbines, limiting space for Nova Scotia Power’s own turbines and devastating thousands of acres of land, threatening wildlife, ecosystems, trails, recreation opportunities, tourism and economic development, natural beauty and quality of life. We urge the Nova Scotia government to do its homework and create a landscape-level plan that would provide a comprehensive strategy to manage and conserve our natural resources.
Related sources…
“It’s our position that energy produced through local wind projects should first be used to create clean, affordable electricity for Nova Scotia’s grid or shared directly with regional neighbours.”
Ecology Action Centre The EAC’s statement on wind energy, land use and green hydrogen production in Nova Scotia (January 11, 2024), read more.
A regional group identifies wind turbine issues related to health.
Protect Wentworth Valley Health & Wind Turbines, read more.