After bold projections that Newfoundland and Labrador could host an $11-billion-a-year wind-to-hydrogen industry by mid-century, the province’s pipeline of proposed projects has largely stalled. Only two initiatives remain in active development, according to reporting on the sector’s long-promised expansion.
Down from many proposals to two
The two projects that persist are being advanced by the North Atlantic Group of Companies and the Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC). They represent the remnants of a wider slate of concepts that emerged after a 2020 feasibility study that envisioned substantial green-hydrogen production and associated jobs across the province.
The feasibility work had suggested hydrogen development could deliver new employment and a sector worth more than $11 billion per year by 2050 while helping decarbonize Atlantic Canada. That optimistic assessment has so far not translated into a broad rollout of projects.
“Development of hydrogen production in NL and attraction of new industry could result in new green jobs and a hydrogen sector in NL valued at greater than $11 billion per year by 2050 while contributing to meeting decarbonization targets across Atlantic Canada.”
What the remaining projects propose
North Atlantic’s plan centres on a sizeable onshore wind farm paired with hydrogen production facilities. Key elements include:
- 324 megawatts of onshore wind capacity in eastern Newfoundland;
- Two hydrogen plants, one located at an existing terminal;
- Combined output of about 90,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year;
- Export infrastructure claimed to handle liquefied hydrogen shipments, leveraging existing port and storage assets.
The company says it has existing personnel and infrastructure — including port facilities capable of handling supertankers and storage for millions of barrels — which it considers an advantage for exporting liquefied hydrogen. The group submitted an initial report to the provincial government and aims for an export capability within about four years, with major engineering work targeted to be finished by the fourth quarter of 2026.
Timelines, investment decisions and local impacts
North Atlantic describes a pathway that would culminate in a final investment decision in the coming years. EVREC’s plans remain under development as well, though details on timing and scale are less publicly laid out. For communities across Newfoundland and Labrador, whether the remaining projects proceed will determine potential long-term employment, local supply-chain opportunities and the role the province plays in hydrogen export markets.
| Project proponent | Noted capacity | Output target |
|---|---|---|
| North Atlantic Group | 324 MW wind | 90,000 tonnes/yr hydrogen |
| EVREC | Details under development | Details under development |
Investors, municipal leaders and workers will be watching whether those remaining proposals secure the financing and regulatory clearances needed to move from engineering and planning into construction. The narrowing of active projects also underscores the broader challenge of translating early-stage feasibility optimism into firm, financed infrastructure on the ground.
As the province’s energy landscape evolves, the fate of these projects will shape discussions about industrial strategy, export readiness and how Newfoundland and Labrador positions itself in emerging low-carbon markets.
