In an effort to reduce carbon emissions and provide customers with clean energy, Irving Oil is increasing hydrogen capacity at its Saint John, N.B., refinery.
The family-run business says it has signed an agreement with New York-based Plug Power Inc. to buy a five-megawatt hydrogen electrolyzer.
It is with the goal of becoming the first oil refinery in Canada to invest in electrolyzer technology.
Irving claims that the device will use electricity from the local grid to produce two tonnes of hydrogen per day, which is enough to fuel 60 buses.
According to Irving, the refinery currently uses natural gas to produce hydrogen and wants to provide infrastructure for hydrogen fueling in Atlantic Canada.