World Energy GH2 has secured Crown land approval for locations in Port au Port and the Anguille Mountains/Codroy region for the project’s initial phases.
Canadian renewable energy firm World Energy GH2 has received land approval from the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for its ambitious green hydrogen project, Project Nujio’qonik. This approval represents a significant milestone for the company and a step forward in establishing the first commercial-scale green hydrogen project in North America.
World Energy GH2 already possesses the Port of Stephenville, which encompasses the land designated for the hydrogen production facility.
Project Nujio’qonik aims to produce green hydrogen and ammonia using more than 3 GW of renewable electricity generated from wind projects on the island portion of Newfoundland and Labrador’s west coast. Starting in 2025, a 3+ GW wind farm will employ 1.5 GW electrolysers to produce roughly 250,000 tons of hydrogen annually.
The Crown Land award not only includes the initial wind farm approvals but also two additional areas, providing a total of 4 GW of buildable wind farm areas in close proximity to the proposed plant site at the Port of Stephenville. World Energy GH2 has secured Crown land approval for locations in Port au Port and the Anguille Mountains/Codroy region for the project’s initial phases.
Moreover, it has obtained approval for expansion sites in the Long Range Mountains and along the Burgeo Highway. The company is set to initiate a consultation and engagement process with communities near these expansion site areas.
The granting of Crown land leases is subject to proponents completing the provincial Environmental Assessment process. Notably, Project Nujio’qonik is currently the only green hydrogen project in Newfoundland and Labrador that has conducted the necessary analysis and submitted an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Sean Leet, Managing Director and CEO of World Energy GH2, stated, “The next major milestone for Project Nujio’qonik will be the province’s response to the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). We expect the province’s response this fall. We also look forward to further details from the federal government regarding the Clean Hydrogen Investment Tax Credit (ITC) coverage and Contracts for Difference (CFD) mechanisms required to establish this new clean energy industry in Canada.”
John Risley, Chairman of World Energy GH2, emphasized the progress of the Canada – Germany Hydrogen Alliance signed in August 2022.
He said, “Last August, we hosted Prime Minister Trudeau and German Chancellor Scholz at our project site in Stephenville. One year later, Project Nujio’qonik is on track to help fulfill Canada’s green hydrogen commitments and produce green hydrogen in 2025. Newfoundland and Labrador – and Canada – have the opportunity to become a global leader in the production, application, and export of green energy. Let’s make it happen.”
This significant milestone brings the promise of green hydrogen production in North America one step closer to reality, marking a crucial development in the transition to clean energy.