Partners
The customers, suppliers, universities and First Nations PDEC is in conversation with. No contracts are signed yet.
Customer demand
Twenty-six customer applications add up to about twice what the plant can make, so PDEC can choose its anchor customers.
See all 26 customers
How much hydrogen each possible customer would use, grouped into 11 kinds of use, from marine and industry to transit, aviation and rail. The figures come from published fleet data and equipment specifications.
| Application | H2 (kg/day) | Diesel (L/yr) | CO2 (t/yr) | Sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cruise ship e-methanol (Port of Vancouver) | Marine | |||
| YVR sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) | Aviation | |||
| Burnaby refinery, Sunoco (H2 feed) | Industrial | |||
| Transit buses (80 FCEBs) | Transit | |||
| Teck Highland Valley Copper haul trucks | Mining | |||
| Hullo Ferries (4 vessels) | Marine | |||
| Harbour tugs, including Seaspan (15+) | Marine | |||
| Drayage trucks (50) | Port | |||
| DND Pacific (shore power and ground equipment) | Defence | |||
| Remote community microgrids (BC Hydro CEDR) | Utility | |||
| Industrial gas wholesale (Air Liquide / Linde) | Industrial | |||
| Port cranes and mobile equipment | Port | |||
| BC Ferries (2 routes) | Marine | |||
| School buses (contracted fleets) | Transit | |||
| CPKC H2 locomotives | Rail | |||
| Fraser Valley greenhouses (gas blend) | Agriculture | |||
| SeaBus (4 vessels) | Marine | |||
| West Coast Express | Transit | |||
| Film and construction generators | Other | |||
| Amrize Richmond cement (kiln blend) | Industrial | |||
| Heidelberg Materials Delta cement | Industrial | |||
| FortisBC pipeline injection (planned) | Utility | |||
| YVR ground support equipment | Aviation | |||
| BC Hydro fleet | Utility | |||
| Data centre backup power | Utility | |||
| Harbour Air seaplanes | Aviation | |||
| Total | 47,090 | 66,200,000 | 89,018 |
Demand by sector
Marine and industry buy the most. Refinery feed and BC's jet fuel rules create demand that does not wait for anyone to buy new vehicles.
47,090 kg/day of modelled demand across 11 sectors. That is about twice what the plant can make (23,627 kg/day). Marine and industrial users need the most. The Burnaby refinery is BC's largest hydrogen user. BC's jet fuel mandate (1% renewable in 2028, 3% from 2030) requires sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and making SAF takes hydrogen.
First Nations
Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam and Haisla are offered equity from the start, not consulted after the fact.
See the detail
PDEC is on the shared territories of the Coast Salish peoples. First Nations involvement and ownership shares are built into the project from the start. Conversations are underway.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation
The Burrard Thermal site is within the Nation's traditional territory. The Nation already works with GCT through SPAL General Constructors Corporation, supplying renewable fuel at Vanterm. That is a useful precedent.
Squamish Nation
UBC CERC runs clean energy research on Squamish territory. Nation leaders have spoken publicly in support of clean energy. The Squamish Clean Technology Association is active in the region.
Musqueam (xwmethkweyem)
UBC SHED and CERC are on Musqueam territory. The Waterfront hub sits on territory shared by the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
Haisla Nation
HaiSea Marine, a joint venture with Seaspan, runs the world's first electric harbour tugs plus LNG escort tugs. It is a working model for Indigenous co-ownership of a low-carbon fleet.
Technology suppliers
The main equipment makers are in BC: Ballard for fuel cells, Corvus for marine batteries and HTEC for fuelling.
See the detail
BC companies that make fuel cells and energy storage. Their equipment for ships, buses and ports is already in production.
Ballard Power Systems
Burnaby, BC
Makes the FCwave marine fuel cell (DNV Type Approved) and the FCmove-HD+ for buses and heavy trucks. Main fuel cell supplier for all marine, rail and bus uses.
Corvus Energy
Richmond, BC
Makes marine battery systems (BESS), in use on 1,300+ vessels worldwide. Damen and BC Ferries chose Corvus for 4 new electric Island Class ferries.
HTEC
Vancouver, BC
Runs a 1.8 t/day station in Burnaby. Its 15 t/day liquid hydrogen plant in North Vancouver ($140M) captures by-product hydrogen from ERCO Worldwide and has its development permits. Backed by a $337M CIB investment commitment and $49M from SIF. The North Vancouver site is across Burrard Inlet from the Waterfront hub, so HTEC could also supply the hub by barge.
Quantum Technology
Squamish, BC
Canada's first maker of large hydrogen liquefiers, with 40 years in very-low-temperature (cryogenic) gas systems. Builds liquefiers that handle several tonnes a day, and purifiers that clean hydrogen to fuel cell grade. ISO 9001. Member of the Canadian Hydrogen Association.
Greenlight Innovation
Burnaby, BC
Builds test stations for fuel cells and electrolyzers, used to test, certify and check quality in mass production. Partners with SFU and Mitacs.
Westport Fuel Systems
Metro Vancouver, BC
Designs and makes alternative fuel systems and parts for vehicles. Sells to vehicle makers (OEMs) and to the independent aftermarket.
Unilia Fuel Cells
Vancouver, BC
Designs hydrogen fuel cell stacks and makes them at scale. Run by experienced engineers who focus on electrochemistry for electric vehicles.
Hillcrest Energy Technologies
Vancouver, BC
Makes high-efficiency power electronics for ships and heavy vehicles. Works with partners such as Ocean Batteries on electric ships and energy storage.
Shift Clean Energy
Vancouver, BC
Battery systems for hybrid and electric ferries, tugs and port equipment. Ship owners can pay by subscription, as they use it.
Supply chain
The companies that would supply power, gas, equipment and logistics, and buy the co-products.
See the detail
Utilities and owners of sites and pipelines, plus possible investors. PDEC can use their assets or skills.
BC Hydro
Owns the Burrard Thermal site, which connects to the grid at three high-voltage points. BC Hydro's industrial rate would power the electrolyzer at a competitive price.
FortisBC
Its gas pipeline already reaches Burrard Thermal. Running North America's largest study of blending 15% hydrogen into natural gas, with DNV and Enbridge. Has a $25M Clean Growth Innovation Fund.
NorthX Climate Tech
Has invested $46M in 74 climate hardware projects, which then drew $478M in private money (10:1). Could fund the Phase 0 feasibility study.
Enbridge
Runs the Westcoast natural gas transmission system in BC. Studying hydrogen blending with FortisBC and DNV.
Vancouver Fraser Port Authority
Owns the federal land for the Waterfront hub. Port partner for ship fuelling and port (drayage) trucks.
Ekona Power
BC company with methane pyrolysis technology, the process PDEC plans to use. Its carbon black price range ($800-$1,500/t) is PDEC's benchmark. Received $3.6M from PacifiCan.
DNV
Global classification and certification body. Sets hydrogen safety standards and gives Type Approval to marine fuel cells. Partner on the FortisBC and Enbridge blending study.
Salish Elements
Indigenous-led green hydrogen developer, co-founded by Rueben George (Tsleil-Waututh) and Omar Kassem. Received $4.5M from the NRCan Clean Fuels Fund for the 25 MW Xaxli'p Green Hydrogen Project. Xaxli'p Nation owns most of that project, which is moving toward front-end engineering (FEED) and an investment decision in 2026.
CPKC
Put its hydrogen locomotive (CP1201) into service in March 2025, hauling Elk Valley coal trains over the Rockies. Burrard Thermal sits on the CP mainline. Key partner for Phase 3 green steel supply and for refuelling locomotives.
Elk Valley Resources
Owned by Glencore (77%), Nippon Steel (20%) and POSCO (3%). BC's largest steelmaking (met) coal operation, with 12.5 Mt in the second half of 2024. PDEC's Phase 3 aims to have it make HBI with PDEC hydrogen and export it to Asian steelmakers through the Port of Vancouver.
Nippon Steel
Japan's largest steelmaker. Owns 20% of Elk Valley Resources. Runs a research program on making iron with hydrogen (hydrogen DRI). A likely buyer of green HBI made with PDEC hydrogen, shipped on existing Pacific trade routes.
POSCO
South Korea's largest steelmaker. Owns 3% of Elk Valley Resources. Has announced US$40B to move to green steel. A second likely Asian buyer of Elk Valley green HBI.
Department of National Defence
CFB Esquimalt is Canada's largest Pacific naval base. DND is the federal government's largest GHG emitter (61% of all federal emissions). The Defence Climate and Sustainability Strategy requires it to cut emissions. Its IDEaS program funds hydrogen storage research ($6.75M per project). PDEC's civilian plant could supply the military without a separate military purchase. Serving both civilian and military users makes the investment case stronger.
Universities
UVic, SFU, UBC and BCIT bring research, testing and a trained workforce.
See the detail
Four BC universities bring research on fuel cells and hydrogen systems, cost studies (techno-economic analysis) and worker training.
University of Victoria
IESVic - Institute for Integrated Energy Systems. Decades of PEM fuel cell and hydrogen research. Can run techno-economic analysis.
PICS - Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions. Carbon economics and policy analysis.
Gustavson - MBA in Sustainable Innovation. Works on the business case.
Simon Fraser University
FCReL - Fuel Cell Research Lab, SFU Surrey. Led by Dr. Erik Kjeang. PEM fuel cell and water electrolysis research.
10-year partnership with Ballard. Has trained 50+ graduates for the hydrogen sector. Located with Ballard and PowerTech Labs.
University of British Columbia
CERC - Clean Energy Research Centre. BCKDF funding ($1.3M).
SHED - $23M Smart Hydrogen Energy District, with an electrolyzer, a refuelling station and solar panels.
MeridaLabs - Led by Dr. Walter Merida. BC's first H2 station for light and heavy-duty vehicles.
UBCO H2LAB - Hydrogen research, including blending research funded by FortisBC.
BCIT
Marine and trades training, including hydrogen safety certification. Trains technicians and operators for fuel cell and electrolyzer systems.
What PDEC needs next
Four contracts lock in the economics before anything is built. If you could sign one of them, or help find who will, a short call is the next step.
Customer contracts
Fleet, marine, port and industrial hydrogen buyers. They commit to buy a set volume at $6.50/kg, and the price never drops below $5.20/kg.
Off-peak power
BC Hydro. A supply agreement at about 5.5 cents a kilowatt-hour, with the plant running when power is cheapest.
Carbon buyer
Makers of steel, batteries, tires and building materials. They buy the solid carbon left when the plant splits natural gas, at $1,000 a tonne or better.
Anchor volumes
Transit, ferry and port operators. Committed volumes that keep the plant running at 85% of capacity.