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POWER-TO-AG
Over the coming years, Ontario needs to transition away from fossil fuel use and towards clean
fertilizer and clean fuels. This project will provide a local, stable supply of clean fertilizer
(ammonia-based nitrogen fertilizer), while at the same time providing a source of clean fuel for
transportation (hydrogen and ammonia).
Power-To-Ag is an electrolysis plant that will use off-peak grid electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.
This is different (cleaner) than conventional hydrogen production in which hydrogen is stripped
from fossil fuels (natural gas and coal) which emits carbon.
An ammonia plant will combine clean hydrogen, from the process above, with nitrogen from
the air to make ammonia. The ammonia will be utilized as fertilizer, while excess hydrogen will
be utilized to fuel hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment. Clean power generation may also be incorporated in future phases.
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What does the project do?An electrolysis plant will use off-peak grid electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This is different (cleaner) than conventional hydrogen production in which hydrogen is stripped from fossil fuels (natural gas and coal) which emits carbon. An ammonia plant will combine clean hydrogen, from the process above, with nitrogen from the air to make ammonia. The ammonia will be utilized as fertilizer, while excess hydrogen will be utilized to fuel hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment. The project will repurpose a municipal property that has been falling into disrepair for a number of years. The plant will be located on the old site of the Bluewater Youth Centre, a correctional centre that has been abandoned for more than a decade. The project will also create high-skilled and blue-collar jobs for the local economy both in its construction and dayto- day operation phases.
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How Big will the project be?The project will be comprised of a 40-megawatt hydrogen plant with 80 tonnes per day of ammonia production. Plant layout and building sizes will be determined as part of the engineering studies. Several buildings and process units will be installed, but there is more than sufficient room within the fenced-in 30 acres of the property to accommodate all required structures.
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How will the project’s safety and environmental impact be assessed?The project will undergo rigorous environmental assessments adhering to all regulatory processes and requirements. Expert consultants have been engaged to coordinate the permitting process, including the field studies and data collection necessary to fully assess the project impacts. Throughout these processes, there will be opportunities for public education and input.
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What’s the next step?The project is very much in the initial stages of assessment. Preliminary engineering study activities are ongoing at this stage and Carlsun is engaging with local municipalities and stakeholders to discuss the proposed project. The next step will be to complete a more detailed Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) study, the outcomes of which will provide design, impact, and cost information upon which a decision to proceed with the project can be made.
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What is the process and timeline for consultation?Consultation with stakeholders, both public and private, is an integral part of both the FEED study and permitting processes. The studies and permitting processes will be starting in 2023 and will take several months to complete. During this time, public meetings will be held specific to the various elements addressed by the FEED study.
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Will there be run-off or discharge to Lake Huron?No. There is not expected to be any run-off or discharge to Lake Huron. This will be examined and documented during the FEED study, including assessing stormwater management, wastewater treatment, and site drainage.
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Will the plant consume large quantities of water?It is expected that the plant’s daily water use will be approximately 100 cubic meters/day. This is roughly equivalent to the amount consumed by five dine-in restaurants. On a monthly basis, this total would be roughly equivalent to the volume of two Olympic-size swimming pools. Engineering studies will quantify and verify the precise water-use requirements as part of the FEED study.
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What type of jobs would be available? How well would they pay?The facility will require a variety of skilled trades during construction, through to normal operation. Additionally, there will be administrative, blue-collar and management positions required when the plant is operational, estimated to be between 50 and 100 permanent jobs.
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How safe is hydrogen? Ammonia?The properties and characteristics of both hydrogen and ammonia are well understood and have been safely produced and transported for decades. Ammonia is the basis of all nitrogen fertilizers used in agriculture for almost 100 years. Ammonia is also widely used as a refrigerant in industrial-cooling systems. Hydrogen, until recently, has been used mainly as a feedstock to other chemical processes making plastics, gasoline, diesel, and a variety of other common products. Hydrogen is handled in a similar manner to other conventional gaseous fuels such as propane or methane (natural gas). Hydrogen is a gaseous fuel with properties and behaviour that make it safe, if not safer, than other conventional fuels that we are more familiar with.
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Would Huron County benefit first from clean fuel production?This will largely depend on parties consuming ammonia and hydrogen from the plant. The end use of these fuels and where those end-uses are located is to be determined. However, Huron County will economically benefit from the job creation related to both construction and day-today operation of the plant.
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How do you store hydrogen?Hydrogen can be stored in tanks similar to those used for propane or natural gas, which is how the project will store hydrogen. On a larger scale, hydrogen can be stored underground like natural gas through the use of salt caverns. This is a proven technology that has been used around the world where geology is favourable. Salt cavern storage may be assessed for this property, but it is currently not clear whether the geology is suitable.
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Where will the electricity come from?This project will be connected to Ontario’s electrical transmission grid. A System Impact Assessment application has been made to IESO/Hydro One to study a connection to the 115kV transmission line that runs from Seaforth to Goderich. The plant will largely consume electricity during off-peak timeframes (generally overnight), which will help make electricity more affordable to Ontario ratepayers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Power-To-Ag News
Power-To-Ag Public Presentations
Presentation to Huron County Soil and Crop Improvement Association
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