Exploring renewable hydrogen power

Summerside mayor highlighted several projects during state of the city address

“We know there are big hurdles on this and there are no guarantees. But we also know that we have a reputation for being able to get big things like this done and a track record of doing it.”

Summerside Mayor Dan Kutcher

SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. – The City of Summerside is looking to continue its investment in green energy projects with a move into hydrogen power.

Mayor Dan Kutcher made the announcement during his first state of the city address on April 24.

During his update, Kutcher said the city has costed out a renewable hydrogen project and is now seeking financial support from the other two levels of government.

The project would include the purchase and installation of a hydrogen electrolyzer and a 33-megawatt hydrogenpowered generator.

An electrolyzer uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can then be stored and burned for fuel as needed, a process which produces pure water as a byproduct.

Summerside has already invested heavily in renewable energy.

Municipally-owned Summerside Electric already operates a 12-megawatt wind farm and recently energized the 22-megawatt Sunbank solar power plant, which also has 10 megawatts of battery storage capacity.

Kutcher said hydrogen technology could help the city keep more of its locally-generated electricity here where it can do the most good, rather than being sold in a market for use elsewhere.

"We know there are big hurdles on this and there are no guarantees. But we also know that we have a reputation for being able to get big things like this done and a track record of doing it,” said Kutcher.

“We’ve met with the province, we’re working with them on a MOU (memorandum of understanding) indicating their support for the concept so we can go to Ottawa, sit down with our federal partners – whose interest is high.”

He added that the city is planning a public information session about the project to provide further details – one of several future initiatives Kutcher highlighted.

Others included a timeline for construction of the longplanned downtown fire hall replacement – construction of which is now expected to start in 2025 – a new public art grant program designed to make the downtown more appealing and the city’s recent purchase of a problematic abandoned building in the downtown, formerly known as Mother’s Antiques.

Kutcher also talked about Summerside’s booming construction industry, and the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid population growth.

Summerside’s population has increased 10 per cent, just over the last couple of years, he said.

“We’re adding as many people per year to the City of Summerside as came in the 20 years before.”

One of those newcomers is David Weintraub, who moved to the city from N.S. almost three years ago.

Weintraub said his family had been long-time summer residents of the area but decided to relocate to the city full-time because they liked Summerside so much.

He attended Kutcher’s state of the city address because he is hopeful for the city’s future and wanted to hear more about it.

“I think the idea of involving the community in their plans is utmost for making successful plans,” said Weintraub.

“Some of the other things that are planned, I’m looking forward to finding out more information about – I think it’s very exciting for our community.”

Kutcher’s state of the city address was his first for the city, though he said he hopes to make a wide-ranging general update about the city’s prospects every second year from now on.