Edmonton Airports, which manages the Edmonton International Airport, revealed this month that it is joining a consortium designed to help advance hydrogen and sustainable aviation technologies in Canada.
YEG is now a “full ecosystem partner” of the nonprofit H2CanFly initiative. The move marks a “significant step” toward achieving net-zero emissions in aviation, according to a statement from the organization.
The Alberta organization made the announcement at the Paris Air Show.
“Joining this pivotal national consortium alongside forward-thinking leaders reflects our strong belief in the transformative potential of hydrogen in the aerospace sector and beyond,” remarked Myron Keehn, who functions as chief executive officer of YEG. “We look forward to contributing bold ideas, advancing real-world innovation and driving meaningful change to support a cleaner, more resilient aviation ecosystem.”
Canada’s largest airport by land size, YEG is home to the country’s first airport-based hydrogen hub. The region of Edmonton is a major hydrogen production area, producing 60% of Canada’s hydrogen.
YEG intends to contribute to H2CanFly’s research and development coalition by providing technical expertise atop other resources to cultivate the future use of hydrogen-powered aircraft and support cleantech infrastructure development.
Counting over 50 partners across aerospace, academia, and government, H2CanFly is a multi-phase, pan-Canadian project focused on accelerating hydrogen and electrification technologies.
Enabling access to aircraft platforms, ground testing facilities, and project funding, the consortium aims to deliver practical aviation benefits in support of Canada’s net-zero goals.
“We are thrilled to welcome Edmonton International Airport to our national initiative,” commented Eric Lefebvre, Chief Executive Officer, H2CanFly. “Their leadership and expertise will be invaluable in advancing our collective mission to develop innovative, scalable solutions for sustainable industries.
A founding members of the Government of Canada’s Net-Zero Challenge, YEG will serve on H2CanFly’s board of directors.