Canada’s economic strategy for hydrogen energy development

Abstract

The article discusses objectives of the Canadian state strategy in the field of hydrogen energy development and the Canadian approach to the development of production, consumption and export of «clean» hydrogen. The provisions of the national «Hydrogen Strategy for Canada» are analyzed. Canadian efforts on setting up «hydrogen alliances» with foreign countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, South Korea are being investigated. It is concluded that Canada’s policy in the field of hydrogen energy development is aimed at using the country’s advantages (existing technological expertise and infrastructure, natural resources) to gain a leading position in the world in the production, consumption, and supply to foreign markets of «clean» hydrogen. At the same time, the national strategy pays little attention to technical problems, related to the development of hydrogen energy, and the economic feasibility of producing and using «clean» hydrogen in the national economy. It is emphasized that to date, questions remain open about whether the Canadian government’s efforts to develop new sectors of the Canadian economy, including hydrogen energy, will bring tangible economic fruits, and whether the Canadian budget system will withstand the significant additional burden associated with these efforts.