Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub joins Pan-Canadian Alliance of Hydrogen Hubs to accelerate clean energy innovation

Originally published by University of Alberta. See original post here.

U of A partnership with City of Edmonton and Diesel Tech Industries will boost research and training aimed at reducing emissions from city vehicles.

January 27, 2026 By Geoff McMaster

The University of Alberta is teaming up with the City of Edmonton and Diesel Tech Industries (DTI) to reduce carbon emissions from the city’s fleet of diesel-powered buses by integrating hydrogen fuel into combustion engines.

If successful, the project will provide vehicle operators across Canada with a retrofit solution to immediately reduce their carbon footprint without replacing existing fleets, says David Gordon, co-principal investigator along with Bob Koch, both professors in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Examining both hydrogen-diesel dual fuel combustion and 100 per cent hydrogen combustion, researchers in the U of A’s Mechanical Engineering Energy Control Lab will explore ways to increase hydrogen-to-diesel fuel replacement. They will develop new control strategies to handle the higher combustion temperatures from burning hydrogen, and investigate the operating range and potential emission benefits of these engines.

“We’re also investing in the next generation of clean-tech leaders,” says Gordon. “Engineers-in-training will have the opportunity to conduct hands-on research and write their theses on hydrogen-diesel dual-fuel technology.”

Leveraging the U of A’s extensive experience with machine learning control and diagnostics, DTI will produce retrofit kits for Edmonton’s bus fleet that can then be sold to operators across Canada to help them transition to carbon-free transportation, all consistent with the goals of Alberta’s Hydrogen Roadmap.

The collaborative project is funded through an NSERC Alliance partnership with the City of Edmonton and by an Emissions Reduction Alberta grant.

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Canada’s hydrogen hubs are coordinating for scale and resilience

Canada’s hydrogen economy is unifying in a new era of collaboration, with the Edmonton region playing a key role in creating national connections.

Rather than advancing hydrogen development in isolation, Canada’s regional hubs are aligning their strengths through the Pan-Canadian Alliance of Hydrogen Hubs. The Alliance brings together hubs from Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Atlantic Canada to strengthen coordination, close gaps across the value chain and support a more resilient, made-in-Canada hydrogen economy.

For the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub, the Alliance reinforces our region’s role as a foundation of Canada’s hydrogen economy. The region brings scale, cost competitiveness and industrial experience that support the transition from pilot projects to commercial deployment.

Together, each participating hub offers unique strengths toward the national ecosystem:

• The Edmonton region provides access to affordable natural gas, carbon capture and storage, and large industrial demand and a strategic node for commercial transportation, enabling low-emission hydrogen production at commercial scale and early end-use adoption.
• British Columbia, through the SFU Clean Hydrogen Hub, contributes advanced research, systems analysis and policy expertise, supporting technology development and clean energy integration.
• Quebec’s Energy Transition Valley brings leadership in renewable electricity, green hydrogen production and system integration, strengthening efficiency and industrial design.
• Newfoundland, through Memorial University, adds export-oriented potential, supported by large-scale renewable resources and proximity to European markets.
• The Atlantic Hydrogen Alliance contributes port infrastructure, logistics expertise and trade connectivity, helping link domestic production to global markets.

By working together, the hubs reduce duplication, accelerate learning and improve Canada’s ability to develop domestic technologies while attracting investment.

“Collaboration is key to unlocking the full potential of the hydrogen economy and ensuring broad economic and environmental benefits,” said Brent Lakeman, Executive Director of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub. “This alliance allows Canada to build a competitive hydrogen industry that reflects the strengths of Canada as a whole.”

Stronger coordination across regions creates the conditions needed to move projects forward and sustain momentum in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape.

Canada is coming together

As regions across the country work to address gaps in Canada’s hydrogen economy, the need for collaboration is becoming a common theme. This Spring, leaders in industry, government and innovation have an opportunity to continue that momentum – and address the biggest challenges facing Canada’s clean energy economy – at the 2026 Canadian Hydrogen Convention. The conference is where the future of clean energy takes shape, and where key partnerships will define what’s next.

The 2026 Canadian Hydrogen Convention takes place April 21st to 23rd in Edmonton. Register today to learn more about the Alliance and discover new opportunities in Canada’s hydrogen economy at North America’s largest conference dedicated to hydrogen.

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As originally published by City of Edmonton

Supplemented with a quote from Brent Lakeman

The City of Edmonton, along with project partners in the Alberta Zero Emissions Fleet Fuelling (AZEFF) project, is launching the operation of the first mobile hydrogen fuelling station in Alberta.

First of its kind in Alberta

The Azolla Biodrome mobile fuelling station, located at the City of Edmonton’s Fleet and Facility Services Ellerslie Facility, is the first of its kind in Alberta. The fuelling station produces hydrogen to service light-, medium- and heavy-duty fleet vehicles, enabling the City and its regional partners to continue piloting hydrogen as a viable fuel option in real-world conditions. This is the first of two fuelling stations that will operate in Edmonton.

“Today marks an important milestone for the City and our regional partners as we incorporate hydrogen vehicles into our fleets,” said Eddie Robar, City Manager. “This pilot project allows us to develop our hydrogen program while learning what is needed to scale the adoption of hydrogen for municipal fleet vehicles for the Edmonton climate. We are excited to be at the forefront of exploring technologies in hydrogen.”

The Azolla Biodrome is a modular hydrogen fuelling system that combines on-site hydrogen production from methanol and deionized water with integrated compression, high-capacity storage and dispensing systems. Designed for mobility and reliability, the station stores hydrogen in 16 tanks with 600 kilograms of storage capacity.

As the project evolves and hydrogen adoption expands in the region, the mobile fuelling station will service more heavy-duty fleet vehicles. These include Class-8 semi-trucks and Class 7-8 vocational vehicles, such as dump trucks, refuse trucks and plow trucks from the City of Edmonton, Strathcona County and Sturgeon County. This reliable source of hydrogen fuel allows the project partners to continue testing hydrogen fuel technologies in real-world and extreme weather conditions.

Integrated partnership

The AZEFF mobile hydrogen fuelling project is a partnership between the City, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County, the Government of Alberta, Emissions Reduction Alberta (ERA), the University of Alberta, The Transition Accelerator, Alberta Motor Transportation Association and Diesel Tech Industries (DTI). The pilot received $6.9 million in ERA funding in April 2024.

“Sturgeon County is proud to be part of this pioneering initiative in clean energy innovation. By exploring hydrogen as a practical solution for heavy-duty fleets, we are taking real steps toward a more sustainable future while supporting local industry and technological advancement,” said Gord Cebryk, General Manager of Infrastructure and Operational Service, Sturgeon County. “This project reflects our commitment to collaboration, environmental leadership, hydrogen sector development and long-term economic resilience.”

"Strathcona County is pleased to be a part of this initiative – a crucial step in supporting and exploring new technologies in clean energy,” said Kevin Cole, Associate Commissioner, Infrastructure and Planning Services, Strathcona County. “By having convenient access to hydrogen fuel, we aim to reduce emissions and promote environmental stewardship. We are committed to advancing alternative energy technology and are proud to collaborate with regional partners to drive this innovation forward. Together, we look forward to seeing how this pilot program will contribute to the development and adoption of sustainable energy solutions."

“This hydrogen fuelling station is a uniquely Albertan project made possible by the innovation and expertise of Alberta’s oil and gas industry. It was built in Alberta, for Alberta,” said Jared Sayers, president and CEO, Azolla Hydrogen.

"Hydrogen is Alberta’s next major energy opportunity, and projects like this are helping build real momentum in the Edmonton region’s hydrogen economy," said Brent Lakeman, Director, Edmonton Region Hydrogen Hub "It’s a strong example of how regional collaboration is enabling deployment on the ground—a meaningful step forward for the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge. It shows that we’re building the right conditions to support innovation, attract investment, and advance the transition to low-emission commercial transportation. Congratulations to the City of Edmonton, Azolla Hydrogen, and all the AZEFF partners for this achievement."

The second mobile fuelling station is scheduled to be operational at a different location in Edmonton in 2026. The pilot project will continue operations through 2027, at which time the City and its partners will produce a final outcomes report.

Plans to enhance the City’s hydrogen fleet

The City’s current fleet of hydrogen vehicles consists of one dual-fuel waste collection truck, one dual-fuel transit bus, one hydrogen fuel cell electric bus and two Toyota Mirai vehicles. An additional dual-fuel waste long haul truck and another dual-fuel transit bus will be converted and added later. The City is committed to pilot and proof of concept studies on evaluating hydrogen propulsion systems.

Dual-fuel engines have the ability to run on two different fuels. In several instances, DTI has retrofitted heavy-duty City and regional partner vehicles with Guardian Hydrogen-Diesel Systems that enables existing diesel engines to operate on a blend of hydrogen and diesel. Using multiport hydrogen injection, the system precisely delivers hydrogen into the combustion chamber, improving efficiency and significantly lowering harmful emissions.