Toronto Region is home to companies with a history of fuel cell innovations

Canada is a leading force in hydrogen technologies. It is one of the largest global producers of industrial hydrogen and is, in fact, the largest producer of hydrogen per capita among OECD (Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation) countries. The Canadian industry is internationally recognized for its leading role in the development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells with applications in mobile, small stationary and portable power markets.

The Ontario hydrogen fuel cell landscape is made up of stakeholders along the entire hydrogen supply chain:

System integrators (e.g. Ford and General Motors)
Parts, components and materials (e.g. Dana Canada Corp., Schneider Electric, Air Liquide)
Supporting public and private infrastructure (government, universities, research institutes, trade associations, financing).

34% of Canada's and 80% of Ontario's hydrogen companies are located in the Toronto Region. Some of the key inovative companies in the region include:

Hydrogenics (Mississauga): With over 60 years of pioneering work, Hydrogenics has become a global leader in the hydrogen and fuel cell sector. It has been involved in the building of an estimated 40 of 220 hydrogen fuel stations that exist around the world, and has participated in contracts in Turkey, Germany, and countries in Africa and Asia. Products such as HyPX™ Power Packs and HyPM™ HD Fuel Cell Power Modules have successfully powered demonstration vehicles around the world.
Enbridge (Toronto): The world's first Direct Fuel Cell-Energy Recovery Generation™ plant was a joint effort between Enbridge and FuelCell Energy. With near-zero air emissions, the hybrid fuel cell power plant, which opened officially in 2008, has the capacity to produce 2.2 MW of electricity.
Dantherm Power (Oakville): Owned by the world-leading fuel cell company Ballard Power Systems, Dantherm develops and produces clean-energy backup power systems for industry and government. By 2012, the company plans to launch a micro combined heat and power unit run by hydrogen fuel cells for use in homes, apartments, and small-scale industries.
Dana Corporation (Oakville): The Oakville fuel cell development centre is one of Dana's four technical hydrogen-related centres worldwide. The Ontario location focuses on thermal and water management subsystems, high-temperature fuel processor and SOFC components. Dana's expertise was instrumental in the development of a unique cooling system for one of the first hydrogen fuel cell plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (FC-PHEV).

R&D in the Toronto Region

Hydrogen-related research has been conducted in the Toronto Region since the early 1900s with Alexander Stuart's studies in electrolysis systems. Toronto Region universities are a hub of research excellence recognized by Canada's major granting agencies. Experts in the region carry out studies in areas of importance to hydrogen technologies such as graded materials, membranes, electrochemical reactions, charge transport, and fuel cell system design.

Between 2000 and 2010, over $42.8 million was invested in hydrogen-related projects across Canada by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) andCanada Foundation for Innovation (CFI). Toronto Region universities received 19% (or $8.1 million) of the national funding.

The Toronto Region is a centre of advanced R&D with 10 research institutes and groups involved in research and development related to fuel cell systems and hydrogen technologies, including:

Centre for Sustainable Energy (Toronto)
Waterloo Centre for Automotive Research
Green Energy Research Institute (Waterloo),
McMaster Institute for Energy Studies (Hamilton)
McMaster Institute for Automotive Research and Technology (Hamilton)
Advanced Materials Research Group (Oshawa).

Patents

The clean energy potential of hydrogen and fuel cells has led to an increase in the number of hydrogen and fuel cell patent filings worldwide. Major companies have sought protection for related technologies such as batteries, membrane and electrolyte materials, and hydrogen production systems.

For more information, download: Hydrogen and Fuel Cells Innovation Snapshot

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