PREMIER CALVERT ANNOUNCES $1.4 MILLION INVESTMENT IN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION DEMONSTRATION PLANT

Saskatchewan's hydrogen industry is lifting off thanks to a new $3.7 million hydrogen production demonstration plant being set up at the University of Regina (U of R).

HTC Purenergy, a Regina-based energy technology company, is leading a consortium to build the plant, developing technology in conjunction with the International Test Centre (ITC) for carbon dioxide capture at the U of R. Premier Lorne Calvert today announced $1,442,000 in funding from the provincial government for the project.

"This project builds on the Saskatchewan tradition of pioneering innovation and research, and our support to it flows out of our recently announced Energy and Climate Change Plan," Calvert said. "Saskatchewan is rapidly becoming a tipping point in showing Canada and the world how hydrogen technology can play a role in dealing with the challenges of combating the damage from greenhouse gases."

Members of the HTC-led consortium include HTC, the ITC, the U of R, Pinnacle Industrial Services of Regina, Milligan Bio-Tech of Foam Lake, Poundmaker AgVentures Ltd. of Lanigan and Dumur Industries of White City. Sustainable Development Technology Canada, a not for profit foundation created by the Government of Canada to support the development and demonstration of clean technologies, recently announced support of $1,090,000 for the project.

A successful demonstration of HTC technology will allow users to make hydrogen using bio-based feedstocks, particularly pre-distilled ethanol and a bio-diesel by-product called Glycerol. The technology has the potential to lower the cost of ethanol and bio-diesel production. HTC's technology is adaptable and capable of being used by every size of producer and capable of solving the long standing transportation and storage cost barriers to hydrogen market growth.

Calvert noted that the hydrogen economy is in its infancy worldwide. As it develops, it will involve hydrogen production, transport and storage; and the various end uses of hydrogen in fuel cells, internal combustion engines or other energy consuming devices.

Hydrogen can be made using several non-renewable energy sources such as natural gas and other methane sources. It can also be made from renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Hydrogen is an energy carrier and not an energy source, and is seen by many countries as a sustainable solution to environmental and security problems associated with fossil fuels.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Bob Ellis
Industry and Resources
Regina
Phone: 306-787-1691
Email: rellis@ir.gov.sk.ca