Canadian green hydrogen partnership World Energy GH2 joins LeadIT.
World Energy GH2 was founded in 2022 specifically to produce renewable power and green fuels. The Atlantic Canadian company’s plans for a commercial green hydrogen and ammonia plant on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador are underway after the purchase of the Port of Stephenville and the granting of environmental permitting. World Energy GH2’s membership of LeadIT was announced during an event for members at COP29 in Baku.
Through its Project Nujio’qonik, World Energy GH2 plans to use 4 GW of wind power to produce green hydrogen and ammonia. Green hydrogen has a potentially crucial role to play in decarbonizing heavy industrial processes where few non-fossil fuel energy alternatives exist. These sectors include steelmaking and concrete production. The company aims to accelerate the production and utilization of green hydrogen across a range of hard-to-abate sectors globally.
The World Energy GH2 project includes the construction of four onshore wind farms, consisting of 4 GW of renewable electricity production. Electricity from these wind farms will be used to power the hydrogen and ammonia production facility that will be built at the Port of Stephenville and will produce approximately 280,000 tonnes per year of green hydrogen (1.6 million tonnes of green ammonia) for export.
Where the sand blows
Project Nujio’qonik is named after the Mi’kmaq name for Bay St. George. Pronounced ‘new-geo-ho–neek,’ Nujio’qonik means ‘where the sand blows.’ The Mi’kmaq are an Indigenous group of people native to the areas of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces.
Read our interview with Sean Leet, Partner, Managing Director and CEO, World Energy GH2. He explains how the partnership is prepared to meet the demand for green energy and work with LeadIT members to advance the global energy transition through commercial-scale decarbonization solutions.
“Industry transition does need global solutions and worldwide partnerships. Therefore, we warmly welcome World Energy GH2 as a member of LeadIT. It will be an interesting journey as they have set themselves the task to produce green hydrogen with wind power and the ambition of transatlantic transport of green ammonia from North America to continental Europe. It demonstrates the sort of ambition that is needed to accelerate heavy industry decarbonization. A recent LeadIT study showed that the increased demand for green hydrogen, driven by green steel production, will be substantial and all sources needed.”
Per Andersson
Head of LeadIT Secretariat
Why did World Energy GH2 want to join LeadIT?
LeadIT has shown remarkable leadership with the development of various industry trackers, including the Transition Tracker and the Green Steel Tracker. These data and insights are invaluable at this stage of the global energy transition and are important markers of where we are – as countries and companies – and where we need to be.
LeadIT’s model of country and corporate members working together is also progressive and encouraging. We want be part of these important conversations and collaborations. In order to advance the energy transition, public and private co-operation is necessary. Renewable energy policies, infrastructure, supply chain models and pricing models need to be advanced on a global, country-to-country scale.
What are your hopes for membership?
We hope to work with LeadIT members to advance the global energy transition through commercial-scale decarbonization solutions.
How does your work contribute to global industry transition?
We are a renewable energy company that offers a massive multi-use renewable energy campus. Our Project Nujio’qonik will be Canada’s first commercial green hydrogen producer, located in Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the world’s best wind resource regions.
We have the potential to develop in excess of 10 GW of renewable electricity through wind projects on the west coast of the island of Newfoundland. Our initial four sites will be developed concurrently with a staggered target delivery schedule, with increased hydrogen and eFuels production over time. Co-location discussions supporting future green steel production and renewable power supply to data centers are also underway.
Project Nujio’qonik will provide an immediate positive impact on Canada’s efforts to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The project will offset ~1 million megatonnes of global CO2 emissions per year based on displacing the equivalent amount of energy generated from coal.
What will World Energy GH2 bring to LeadIT?
We are bringing an Atlantic Canadian perspective and a green energy developer perspective to LeadIT. While most of LeadIT’s members are seeking ways to decarbonize, we are offering complementary decarbonization solutions. As businesses and industries pursue decarbonization, we are prepared to meet the demand for green energy with superior access to global markets, a world-leading renewable energy production site and globally competitive green hydrogen production.
We are also bringing Canada’s values and principles to our collaboration. We are committed to Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Call to Action 92 and are working to ensure that Indigenous communities gain long-term, sustainable benefits from our projects.