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Ontario Tech acknowledges the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation.

We are thankful to be welcome on these lands in friendship. The lands we are situated on are covered by the Williams Treaties and are the traditional territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation, including Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi. These lands remain home to many Indigenous nations and peoples.

We acknowledge this land out of respect for the Indigenous nations who have cared for Turtle Island, also called North America, from before the arrival of settler peoples until this day. Most importantly, we acknowledge that the history of these lands has been tainted by poor treatment and a lack of friendship with the First Nations who call them home.

This history is something we are all affected by because we are all treaty people in Canada. We all have a shared history to reflect on, and each of us is affected by this history in different ways. Our past defines our present, but if we move forward as friends and allies, then it does not have to define our future.

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Hydrogen Commercialization and Demonstration Centre

The North American market demand for facilities that can assist in the development of hydrogen-based energy and mobility technologies is growing rapidly. However, there are limited options for companies with plans to take new technologies that address carbon reduction through alternative energy solutions to the market. Ontario Tech is leading the way in filling this gap through the Ontario Tech Hydrogen Commercialization and Demonstration Centre.

The HCDC structure was developed based on the success of Project Arrow in constructing a working prototype through collaborating with Industry, Industry Associations and Government funding. The HCDC is a collective of the broad Ontario Tech expertise and capability in Hydrogen bringing together strong expertise in hydrogen production at the Clean Energy Research Centre (CERL), fuel cell research and development in the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, the Faculty of Science and other Faculties and hydrogen mobility testing and development at the ACE Core Research Facility. By aligning these resources as required on a project-by-project basis, Ontario Tech is a leader in partnering with industry to bring hydrogen technology-based solutions to market and addressing Climate Change through carbon reducing technologies and products.

The first project is underway - developing a product that will replace a diesel-powered transportation solution with an alternative solution using a hydrogen powered fuel cell. The first version prototype is on track to be completed by the end of 2023, with additional improvements in following versions in 2024. When implemented in the marketplace, this solution will be impactful across North America and will significantly reduce carbon emissions in our communities and on our highways.

The next project is in development and involves a completely different case of replacing diesel-based transportation technology with hydrogen fuel cell propulsion. The prototype when complete has the potential to be adopted around the world by sector that is a significant carbon emitter.

These projects, and future projects at the HCDC, are strong examples of Ontario Tech actively applying “Tech With a Conscience” and also demonstrating our ability to work with external partners and Industry to address Climate Change in a direct way.

  • Why HCDC?
    • World-class facilities: 
      • Clean Energy Research Lab (CERL) - led by Dr. Ibrahim Dincer, one of the world’s most cited hydrogen researchers. 
      • ACE - one of the world’s most advanced climatic and aerodynamic research and testing facilities offers multi-chamber hydrogen research and development with cascading, board tanks and the opportunity for refueling options in an approved and regulated environment. 
    • Intellectual Property - Ontario Tech University has a creator-owned IP Policy. 
    • Commitment to industry collaboration - a powerful combination of research expertise, and a dedicated team of engineers and technicians within a commercial environment to help industry partners create prototypes.