Atura Power and Plains All American Sign MOU for Underground Hydrogen Storage Feasibility
Atura Power and Plains All American (PAA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to conduct a feasibility study for a low-carbon hydrogen project in Windsor, Ontario. This initiative includes designing a 20-megawatt electrolyzer adjacent to Atura's Brighton Beach Generating Station and subsurface hydrogen storage at Plains' salt-cavern facility. The project aims to enhance Ontario's clean energy portfolio and support decarbonization efforts. The commencement of the studies depends on Canadian federal grant funding expected in Q2 2022.
- Collaboration with Plains on a low-carbon hydrogen project to enhance clean energy in Ontario.
- Potential to create a 20-megawatt electrolyzer to produce hydrogen, positioning Atura as a key player in the hydrogen economy.
- Support for decarbonizing high-emission industries and heavy-duty trucking.
- Feasibility and engineering studies are contingent on receiving federal funding, which introduces uncertainty.
- Hydrogen storage implementation relies on conversion or expansion of existing assets, adding operational complexity.
OAKVILLE, Ontario and HOUSTON, April 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atura Power (Atura) and Plains All American (Nasdaq: PAA & PAGP) (Plains) today announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) pursuant to which they will conduct a low-carbon hydrogen (electrolyzer produced) and subsurface storage feasibility study and front-end engineering design (FEED) study related to Atura’s and Plains’ existing assets and operations located in Windsor, Ont. The prospective studies will analyze the technical and commercial feasibility of Atura designing, constructing and operating a 20-megawatt electrolyzer adjacent to its Brighton Beach Generating Station (BBGS), and Plains providing subsurface hydrogen storage service at its nearby Windsor salt-cavern product storage facility.
“We are excited to partner with Plains to explore options to produce and store hydrogen near our Brighton Beach Generating Station,” said Chris Fralick, Atura Power President. “Investigating sub-surface hydrogen storage at scale in Ontario is a crucial step to realizing hydrogen’s full net zero potential. Hydrogen can be produced during off-peak times, on a daily or seasonal basis, and stored as a long-term energy source. That stored hydrogen can be used to decarbonize the Ontario economy in applications such as high-emitting industries, heavy duty trucking and for long-term/seasonal storage of energy for the electricity grid.”
“We believe hydrogen can play a critical role in global decarbonization. As a large operator of Canadian natural gas liquids storage caverns, exploring the feasibility of utilizing our assets for hydrogen storage is an important step in advancing our Emerging Energy platform,” stated Dan Noack, Plains’ Vice President of Emerging Energy and Process Optimization. “Adding hydrogen storage service would align with our existing asset base, business model, and our efforts to diversify our participation in energy evolution in a capital-efficient manner. We look forward to growing our relationship with Atura and advancing other similar opportunities in the future.”
The MOU allows for Atura and Plains to investigate the potential for Atura to produce low-carbon hydrogen at BBGS, and for Plains to implement a capital-efficient solution by either converting and/or expanding some of its existing Windsor salt cavern storage assets to hydrogen storage.
BBGS has direct access to a high-voltage switchyard for the electricity component, and proximity to the Detroit River and the BBGS water treatment system for the water component. Plains Windsor storage caverns are located within three-and-a half kms of BBGS.
The commencement of the feasibility and FEED studies is contingent on receipt of Canadian federal grant funding, which is anticipated in the second quarter of 2022.
Atura is implementing a low-cost, low-carbon hydrogen program that will assist in the reduction of greenhouse gases, while supporting the development and adoption of a key clean-energy source on a path to an economy wide net-zero emissions future. As an enabler of clean energy, Atura is positioned to help build the hydrogen economy in Ontario. Low-carbon hydrogen will be an important tool in the fight against climate change and supports the net-zero goals outlined in Ontario Power Generation’s (OPG) Climate Change Plan.
Plains owns 28 million barrels of natural gas liquids storage capacity, including more than 50 storage caverns with significant connectivity via pipeline, rail and trucking. Successful completion of this project would enable Plains to join a relatively small number of hydrogen storage operators in North America.
About Atura Power
Atura Power, a subsidiary of OPG, plays a key role in the province’s electricity system. With plants in Windsor, Halton Hills, Toronto and Napanee, its fleet of combined-cycle plants is flexible and dispatchable – an enabler of renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. Atura Power is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and being a leader in facilitating economy-wide adoption of hydrogen across Ontario.
About Plains
PAA is a publicly traded master limited partnership that owns and operates midstream energy infrastructure and provides logistics services for crude oil and natural gas liquids (NGL). PAA owns an extensive network of pipeline gathering and transportation systems, in addition to terminalling, storage, processing, fractionation and other infrastructure assets serving key producing basins, transportation corridors and major market hubs and export outlets in the United States and Canada. On average, PAA handles more than 6 million barrels per day of crude oil and NGL.
PAGP is a publicly traded entity that owns an indirect, non-economic controlling general partner interest in PAA and an indirect limited partner interest in PAA, one of the largest energy infrastructure and logistics companies in North America. PAA and PAGP are headquartered in Houston, Texas. For more information, please visit plainsallamerican.com.
For more information:
Media Relations
media@aturapower.com
Michael Millik
Manager, Investor Relations
Plains All American
(866) 809-1291
Karen Rugaard
Sr. Manager, Government & Public Affairs
Plains All American
(866) 809-1290
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