Blackjacks Roadhouse’s announcement marks a critical milestone for the company as it deploys Alberta’s first advertising hydrogen fueling station. This progression is expected to drive the creation of an expanded hydrogen refueling network across Western Canada, addressing the quintessential “chicken or egg” problem. challenge within the hydrogen economy, aligning advances in refueling infrastructure with developing demand.
“The opening of Alberta’s first advertising hydrogen fueling station demonstrates Edmonton’s leadership in Canada’s adventure to a net-zero economy,” said one industry expert. “This refueling station will kick-start the structure of Alberta’s hydrogen refueling infrastructure and the progress of a hydrogen economy in this region. “
The arrival of the HYLA modular tanker represents an important step forward. This technology, with a 700 bar tension filling system, compresses and delivers hydrogen to Suncor’s retail outlets for long-range vehicles, adding trucks, buses and cars. With continuous construction created in demand for hydrogen, this modular refueler is seen as the forerunner of permanent installations and an indispensable component of an extensive HYLA refueling network that will extend across Alberta.
HYLA Ontario Guasti Station -19 – Image Source: NikolaDecarbonizing Western Canada’s Key Transportation Corridor
Strategically located on Highway 2 in Leduc County, Alberta, the fuel station is poised to decarbonize one of Western Canada’s busiest arteries, successfully connecting Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta’s two largest urban centres. The site will host approximately 96,000 cars that go through Blackjacks. Roadhouse on a daily basis, making sure it’s good enough for Nikola’s developing fleet of hydrogen-fueled mobile electric cars destined for the Canadian market.
With Alberta being the country’s leading hydrogen manufacturer, the emergence of this new HYLA refueling station reinforces the really important role hydrogen will play in achieving Canada’s net-zero ambitions through 2050. This is particularly true in industries that are notoriously difficult to decarbonize, such as heavy-duty transportation.
“This is a revolutionary step towards a hydrogen-powered future,” said one of the stakeholders, underlining the decisive nature of the initiative. By building this refueling infrastructure, Edmonton is not only signaling that it is prepared for a sustainable transformation of the trucking sector, but it is also setting a benchmark that can catalyze similar progress across the country and beyond.