Ontario's Electricity Grid

As Ontario explores pathways to achieve a low-carbon energy future, one of the fuels that shows considerable promise is hydrogen.

Hydrogen can be produced using electricity. With an electricity grid that is almost 90% emissions free, Ontario is well-positioned to support the production of low-carbon hydrogen for grid and other end-uses.

Electricity Sector Uses:

• Providing energy or grid services like: peaking generation capacity, ancillary services, long-term and/or seasonal storage and helping to decarbonize existing generation assets
• Smoothing the energy output from renewable resources, like wind and solar
• Blending with natural gas to reduce the emissions impact of natural gas combustion

Other Sector Uses:

• Hydrogen fuel cells for transportation, including passenger vehicles and heavy freight trucks
• Industrial production of ammonia for fertilizer, methanol and other liquid synthetic fuels

In addition to providing services to the electricity sector, hydrogen may also support deep decarbonization across Ontario’s economy. Certain sectors and processes, such as building heating and passenger transportation, are relatively easy to decarbonize through electrification. Others are more difficult, requiring an alternative to electrification. That’s where hydrogen may fit in, serving as an effective fuel that can help decarbonize energy- and emissions-intensive sectors including commercial trucking, aviation, fertilizer production and steel manufacturing, among others.