Hydrogen in Canada: 10 Facts & Statistics

Hydrogen in Canada: 10 Facts & Statistics

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Hydrogen in Canada - facts and statistics

Did you know that Canada is a major global player in hydrogen, producing about 4 million tonnes annually and ranking among the world’s top 10 producers? As global demand for hydrogen grows, the chemical element is becoming an increasingly important part of the world’s energy and industrial future.

Today, hydrogen is used across key Canadian industries, including petroleum refining, ammonia and methanol production, and steelmaking, while new opportunities are emerging in transportation, electricity, and heating. With 13 production facilities already operating, a national Hydrogen Strategy in place, and dozens of potential projects that would create immense economic opportunities, Canada is positioning itself to play an even larger role in the nascent global hydrogen industry.

Below, we have compiled the latest facts about the hydrogen industry in Canada from reputable sources across the web, so you don’t have to. Also see:

·        Oil & Gas in Canada: 40 Facts & Statistics
·        Uranium in Canada: 13 Facts & Statistics
·        Renewables in Canada: XX Facts & Statistics

10 Canadian Hydrogen Facts & Statistics

#1 – Canada is a top 10 global producer of hydrogen, currently producing about 4 million tonnes per year [1]

#2 – The world currently uses more than 97 million tonnes of hydrogen annually, 99.6% of which is produced from fossil fuels [1]

#3 – If Canada fully captures the hydrogen opportunity it has to produce and export more, it could support more than 350,000 jobs by 2050 [2]

#4 – Canada’s hydrogen opportunity, if developed as planned, could generate more than $50 billion per year in direct export revenues by 2050 [2]

#5 – A 2019 study in British Columbia found that the province alone could see a potential of $15 billion in hydrogen exports by 2050 [2]

#6 – Canada already has 13 hydrogen production facilities in operation; of those, 6 are electrolytic hydrogen projects [3]

#7 – Canada released its national Hydrogen Strategy in December 2020 to position the country as a leading producer, user, and exporter of hydrogen [2]

#8 – Between 2021 and 2024, around 80 hydrogen production projects have been announced in Canada, representing a potential of $100 billion in total investment through 2050 [3]

#9 – If all announced hydrogen projects were built in Canada, they could add about 5 million tonnes per year of low-carbon hydrogen production capacity [3]

#10 – Hydrogen refuelling networks are developing in British Columbia, Québec, Ontario, and Alberta [3]

Hydrogen Uses & Production

Apart from being the most abundant chemical element in the universe, hydrogen has a growing range of applications worldwide in transportation, industry, electricity, and heating.

For Canada in particular, it is being explored for use in applications where long operating range, quick refuelling, and heavier-duty performance are critical, including trucks, buses, rail, marine vessels, mining equipment, and certain aviation applications [4]. It can also be used in fuel cells to power vehicles and equipment, particularly in settings such as ports and freight hubs where centralized fuelling infrastructure can support daily operations [4].

In industry, hydrogen already plays a key role as a feedstock in petroleum refining, ammonia and methanol production, and steelmaking, making it an important input for numerous industrial and manufacturing processes in Canada [4]. Hydrogen can also be used for electricity generation, energy storage, and industrial heating, where it can be blended with natural gas for various applications [4].

Overall, hydrogen’s value in Canada comes from its versatility and ability to meet a wide range of large-scale industrial and transportation needs – and is why it is in growing demand around the world [4].

The World Needs Canadian Hydrogen

As global demand for reliable, affordable, and secure energy continues to grow, Canada has an opportunity to supply the fuel, expertise, and innovation the world needs. By investing in hydrogen development at home, we can support jobs, strengthen our economy, and help build a more resilient energy system for the decades ahead.

A prosperous and energy-secure future will not come from choosing a single source, but from using every available tool in our toolbox – including oil, natural gas, wind, solar, hydro, nuclear, geothermal, hydrogen, biofuels, and more!

The world needs more Canadian energy – join us today to learn more!

SOURCES:

1 - https://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/data-analysis/energy-markets/market-snapshots/2025/market-snapshot-hydrogen-update-a-small-molecules-role-in-canadas-energy-system.html

2 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/clean-fuels/hydrogen-strategy

3 - https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-sources/clean-fuels/hydrogen-strategy/hydrogen-strategy-canada-progress-report

4 - https://fchea.org/learning-center/hydrogen-in-industrial-application/