SARNIA, ON: As Ontario’s hydrogen leader, Sarnia-Lambton envisions significant economic expansion, diversification, and job creation, linked to low-carbon hydrogen. To support the region’s ambition of being the launching point of a large-scale, multi-faceted low-carbon hydrogen economy in Ontario – as Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub – the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership has released the Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub in Sarnia-Lambton Strategic Plan.
The strategy is designed to entice capital investment and job creation to the Sarnia-Lambton area by identifying pathways to transition the local economy to low-carbon hydrogen production, enable implementation of transformational technologies that utilize hydrogen, promote local expansions, and attract foreign direct investment.
A Roadmap to 2050 identifies Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub in Sarnia-Lambton has a golden opportunity to have a hydrogen market producing, trading and utilizing over 1 million tonnes of low-carbon hydrogen per year, supporting large-scale industrial decarbonization and net-zero targets while benefitting the local economy and communities. To achieve this, the Strategic Plan’s roadmap for the Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub identifies the roles of the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership and key stakeholders in growing and expanding the local hydrogen economy, while taking into consideration alignment with Canada and Ontario’s hydrogen strategies, key opportunities and technologies, and demand forecasts as the nation transitions to a net-zero economy.
“Through the Strategic Plan, it is clear that the Sarnia-Lambton area, as Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub, is well positioned to develop a self-sustaining low-carbon hydrogen economy that would create local jobs, attract investment and reduce greenhouse gas emissions”, said Partnership CEO Dan Taylor. “The area has every opportunity to be Ontario’s leader in hydrogen production, demand, research, and associated investment, and now we have a roadmap on how to achieve long-term success on the drive to net-zero, while capitalizing on the positive impacts for Sarnia-Lambton”
Led by the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership, the Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub was launched in 2021 and is supported by an alliance of twenty local stakeholders, including industry, research, and economic development leaders to kickstart the Sarnia-Lambton area’s low-carbon hydrogen economy and position the region for success as Canada shifts towards a low-carbon future. These stakeholders, in addition to provincial and national contributors played an active role in providing industry information and insights that was critical to the development of the Strategy.
In April of last year, the Ontario government released its Low-Carbon Hydrogen Strategy, which recognized the Sarnia-Lambton area as a region with an opportunity to advance low-carbon hydrogen in the province. In December 2020, the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada was released, suggesting more than 350,000 jobs could result from the hydrogen sector.
“Similar strategies have led to the development of successful hydrogen hubs and associated investment in competing regions of Canada, such as Alberta,” said Taylor. “With provincial, national, and international competition for investment dollars and associated projects, we have taken the necessary steps to position the Sarnia-Lambton region to capitalize on the burst of economic activity that is expected in coming years and decades. Mayor Bradley has noted, what is going on elsewhere in the country is what is going on here, and we have an opportunity to be part of the national narrative. This strategy supports it”
The project was supported by Global Affairs Canada’s CanExport Community Investments program.
Learn More
To read the Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub in Sarnia-Lambton Strategic Plan, visit:
https://www.sarnialambton.on.ca/hydrogen-hub
For more information on Ontario’s Hydrogen Hub, please visit https://www.ontarioshydrogenhub.com or contact Matthew Slotwinski (matthew@sarnialambton.on.ca) or Shauna Carr (shauna@sarnialambton.on.ca) at the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership.
ABOUT Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
The Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership (SLEP) is the lead economic development agency for the Sarnia-Lambton area. Funded by the County of Lambton, we have a focus on promoting the distinct advantages that Sarnia-Lambton proudly offers companies and residents. By coordinating community-based economic development initiatives and working to maintain a commercially attractive environment, we foster new business creation, help ensure that established firms remain and grow here, and work to attract growing businesses to the Sarnia-Lambton area. Visit sarnialambton.on.ca to learn more.
Media Contact
Travis Kelly
Marketing & Communications
Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership
519-332-1820
travis@sarnialambton.on.ca