​New PNWER Studies Offer First Multi-Jurisdictional and Cross-Border Analysis of Pacific Northwest’s Hydrogen Economy Potential

PNWER has completed landmark, multi-jurisdictional studies that provide a comprehensive view of supply, demand, and trade flow potential for low-carbon hydrogen across the Pacific Northwest. The cross-border Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Analysis was commissioned by Washington State Department of Commerce (Commerce) and the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Climate Solution’s Clean Energy and Major Projects Office (CEMPO), and is complemented by a parallel study commissioned by the Government of Alberta. 

​The studies were conducted by Deloitte and developed to enable policymakers, industry stakeholders, Indigenous and Tribal Nations, and regional partners to better understand the economic landscape, funding tools and policy frameworks that support the development and deployment of hydrogen. 
Cross-Border Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Study

British Columbia and Washington state are demonstrated leaders in planning for and investing in low-carbon hydrogen economies to drive growth, diversify energy tools and enhance regional energy resilience. This first-of-its-kind study explores cross-border collaboration opportunities that leverage geographic proximity and existing relationships to drive economic growth, infrastructure development and hydrogen accessibility.

Key Recommendations
  • Share data and coordinate planning of hydrogen projects and initiatives across jurisdictions in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Evaluate opportunities to harmonize policies to facilitate cross-border hydrogen development, including funding mechanisms and seamless trade.
  • Support ways to involve, partner with and benefit Tribes, First Nations and communities. This includes educational resources, associations and collaboration to uplift indigenous voices.
  • Advance regional hubs and cross-jurisdictional corridors for aligned hydrogen and synthetic fuel use.​

Read more about next steps for collaboration between Washington and BC here.
Alberta Hydrogen Analysis
The Government of Alberta launched its Hydrogen Roadmap in 2021, which outlines a comprehensive strategy for hydrogen production, research and development, carbon capture and use cases across sectors. The new Alberta Hydrogen Analysis expands these efforts by putting forward recommendations to enhance Alberta’s hydrogen funding and regulatory landscape, support new and existing hydrogen hubs, assess potential for hydrogen-fueled transportation, and explore export potential to other Pacific Northwest provinces and states. The Government of Alberta will take the Alberta Hydrogen Analysis into advisement as it revisits the Hydrogen Roadmap in 2025.

Key Recommendations:
  • Ensure regulatory efficiency, codes and standards in a governance toolkit tailored to hydrogen hub operations. 
  • Lead a formal platform for hydrogen hubs across Canada to share knowledge and best practices.
  • Build new market demand by implementing incentives and support tools to reduce hydrogen adoption barriers. 
  • Fund research and development opportunities to lower costs through technology, innovation and attract capital investment. 
  • Pursue hydrogen exports by conducting assessments on transportation logistics corridors to identify bottlenecks and investment opportunities.
  • Enable carbon capture, utilization and storage to reduce lifecycle emissions and support low-carbon certification. 
  • Activate technology and innovation to underpin a successful long-term hydrogen economy strategy.

Next Steps
Using these studies as a foundation, PNWER aims to lead the establishment of a Pacific Northwest Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Coalition in partnership with the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association and Montana Renewables. Modeled after the Minnesota SAF hub, the coalition will convene regional stakeholders in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and western Canada to support the production, storage and deployment of SAF in the Pacific Northwest. The coalition is planned to meet in late summer 2025.