The City of Calgary will launch a pair of hydrogen vehicle pilot projects later this year, with one boosted by a recent provincial funding announcement.

On Tuesday, the Government of Alberta announced that it will provide $57 million to develop 28 new hydrogen technologies. They said the investment will accelerate technologies that could be used to help Alberta reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

The funding is coming through the Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction program, the province said.

“We are funding new, innovative technologies that will ultimately help hydrogen power Alberta’s industries, vehicles, homes and economy in the years ahead,” said Rebecca Schulz, Minister of Environment and Protected Areas.

“We are reducing emissions through technologies, not taxes, and creating jobs at the same time.”

One of the projects that received funding was for a City of Calgary pilot project to test hydrogen vehicles and equipment to help determine suitability in Alberta.

The City of Calgary’s Fleet and Inventory confirmed they will be receiving the money from Emissions Reduction Alberta’s Accelerating Hydrogen Challenge.

“This will fund The City’s Advancing Hydrogen in Municipal Fleet Project that will evaluate the use of hydrogen across various types of vehicles and equipment,” according to Philippa Wagner, Green Fleet Program Manager with the City of Calgary.

“This pilot will provide insight into how hydrogen-powered vehicles affect operations, the facility changes needed to maintain them, how they operate in Calgary’s climate, and their impact on greenhouse gas emission reduction.”

The capital cost of the project is estimated at $4.4 million, with annual operating costs of $300,000. The remainder of the pilot project funding will come from the City of Calgary.

The pilot project will start in Q2 of 2024 and is planned to go until 2028.

Transit has a hydrogen pilot project, too

Calgary Transit is also embarking on a hydrogen fueling and pilot fleet feasibility study, according to the city.

This pilot will also start soon and go into 2025, the city said.

“This study will evaluate hydrogen delivery options, technical requirements, infrastructure modifications, safety protocols, and economic considerations associated with introducing hydrogen fueling and a pilot bus fleet at the Stoney Transit Facility,” read the City of Calgary email.

Calgary Transit entered into an investment agreement with Alberta Innovates for $137,500, and has funding approved in principle for the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ Green Municipal Fund.

The City of Calgary has approved a $25,000 in-kind contribution, and $112,500 cash.

Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek said that the city is focused on diversifying its transit fleet, including the move from diesel to compressed natural gas, along with the hydrogen bus exploration.

“This new funding from the provincial government is greatly welcomed,” the mayor said.

“Exploring the impacts of hydrogen-powered vehicles on City operations and their performance in Calgary’s climate is a key step forward with this emerging technology.”

The City of Calgary is also looking at electric buses but in March of this year, they said that they had to pause the pilot project because of a delay in the delivery of vehicles.

There has been no additional update on the City of Calgary’s project page on electric buses.