Saint John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, September 27, 2024 – At the occasion of a Belgian High Level Energy Mission to Atlantic Canada, CertifHy, a leading renewable hydrogen and e-fuels certification provider, is proud to announce the precertification of two landmark renewable hydrogen projects in Newfoundland and Labrador: Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC) and World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik. The announcement was made in presence of John Abbott, Minister of Housing, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions of Newfoundland and Labrador, Ambassador of Belgium to Canada Patrick Van Gheel, Hinicio Founder and CEO Patrick Maio; and representatives from both projects, including Dean Comand President and Chief Operating Officer of EVREC, and Sean Leet, Managing Director and CEO, World Energy GH2.
Project Nujio’qonik: Pioneering Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Production
World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik, is set to become Canada’s first commercial-scale green hydrogen and ammonia production facility. Located on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the world’s most promising wind resource regions, the project aims to develop 4 GW of renewable electricity through multiple onshore wind farms. With facilities in Port au Port and the Anguille Mountains generating 2 GW, and additional wind farms contributing another 2 GW, Project Nujio’qonik will produce approximately 280,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 1.6 million tonnes of green ammonia annually. The audit exercise for Project Nujio’qonik was conducted by TÜV SÜD, a certification body recognized under the CertifHy EU RFNBO Scheme and was supported by Hinicio. With significant investments, strategic partnerships, port and land acquisition and environmental approvals already in place, Project Nujio’qonik is poised to transform the region’s energy landscape.
Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC): A Megaproject in Green Energy Transition
EVREC, one of the most advanced projects in Newfoundland is pioneering a mega power-to-X (P2X) project located in the Exploit Valley region of central Newfoundland. EVREC was awarded over 300 square kilometers of Crown land, that will be utilized to generate over 3 GW of onshore wind and solar energy which is projected to produce nearly 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen which will be converted into nearly 1 million tonnes of green ammonia annually. The audit exercise for EVREC’s products was conducted by Bureau Veritas, a certification body recognized under the CertifHy EU RFNBO Scheme, and supported by Hinicio.
EVREC will export this critical fuel to global markets (predominantly Western Europe) from its own dedicated port infrastructure located in Botwood Newfoundland. With the competitive advantages of EVREC’s project, the levelized cost of ammonia generated by the project is expected to be in the lowest quartile globally. The project represents a CAD $12 billion investment into the province and is expected to significantly boost Newfoundland and Labrador’s GDP and create hundreds of skilled jobs, positioning the province as a leader in the new green energy economy.
Understanding the Significance of RFNBO Precertification
RFNBO precertification serves as a crucial preparatory stage, allowing projects to address potential roadblocks before the initial certification audit at the start of commercial production and exports towards the European Union. This rehearsal exercise helps identify gaps in design, production, and supply chain processes, ensuring compliance with the EU RED III standards and facilitating a smooth transition to full certification. By undergoing precertification, both World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik and Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC) demonstrate their commitment to proactive planning and compliance, enhancing investor confidence, securing funding, and gaining a competitive commercial advantage, among others to export green molecules to the European Union.
CertifHy: Setting the Standard for RFNBO Certification
CertifHy has recently achieved a significant milestone with the European Commission granting a technical approval of its certification scheme, solidifying its status as a benchmark for renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs). This endorsement positions CertifHy at the forefront of the global energy transition, establishing its scheme as a future standard for RFNBO certification. As the industry anticipates formal recognition from the European Commission of the CertifHy EU RFNBO Scheme before the end of the year and as one of the first one to be officially recognized by the EU, CertifHy’s certification scheme will empower economic operators worldwide to confidently meet compliance requirements, support the EU’s ambitious renewable energy targets, and drive the global shift towards a clean hydrogen-powered future.
About Belgium’s High Level Energy Mission to Atlantic Canada
Held from September 23-27, 2024, this mission aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Belgium and Canada in clean energy, and specifically in renewable hydrogen. The mission includes high-level meetings and networking opportunities with key Canadian stakeholders, highlighting the shared commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The mission builds on years of collaborative initiatives, enhancing dialogue between government, industry, and academia.
Dean Comand, COO of Abraxas Power said: “Achieving pre-certification for our green hydrogen and ammonia as RFNBOs is a testament to our team’s dedication and our commitment to driving meaningful change in the energy sector. This milestone not only validates our efforts to produce clean and sustainable energy but also reinforces our role in supporting global climate goals. We are excited to continue advancing innovative solutions that contribute to a more sustainable future.”
Sean Leet, Managing Director and CEO of World Energy GH2 said: “This pre-certification that the green hydrogen we will produce will be RFNBO compliant is another important milestone for Project Nujio’qonik. The emerging green hydrogen projects in Atlantic Canada are recognized worldwide as being amongst the most advanced and largest projects of their kind. Many thanks to Hinicio and the CertifHy team for their hard work and professionalism throughout this pre-certification process.”
Matthieu Boisson, Managing Director of CertifHy said: “Precertifying World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik and Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC) showcases the commitment of Canadian renewable energy pioneers to lead the global transition to clean hydrogen. These projects not only set a benchmark for future initiatives in Canada but also reinforce the importance of robust certification frameworks in advancing the green energy market. CertifHy is dedicated to providing the highest level of expertise and support, ensuring that every project we certify is well-positioned to meet international standards and contribute meaningfully to the global clean energy landscape.”
Patrick Maio, Founder and CEO of Hinicio said: “Achieving precertification for two large-scale renewable hydrogen projects simultaneously is an outstanding accomplishment for Newfoundland and Labrador and a testament to the region’s commitment to leading in the ecological transition. World Energy GH2’s Project Nujio’qonik and Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (EVREC) position Atlantic Canada as a formidable player in the global clean energy landscape, contributing not only to a cleaner future but also to local economic growth by creating jobs and establishing a hub of expertise in renewable hydrogen. Hinicio is proud to support these visionary projects, which exemplify how strategic planning and adherence to high certification standards can drive meaningful, sustainable change.”
Laurence Boisramé, Bureau Veritas Global Director for Hydrogen said: “RFNBO rules set by the European Commission will apply not only to hydrogen producers in Europe but also to any producer targeting the European market. This creates a lot of interest as well as many questions about the interpretation of these regulations outside of the EU. At Bureau Veritas, we are convinced that project pre-certification is the best way to advance toward practical application. As a trusted certification body for CertifHy’s EU RFNBO Voluntary Scheme, and with a network of over 8000 auditors around the world, Bureau Veritas is thrilled to contribute to accelerating the international trade of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives.”
About World Energy GH2: World Energy GH2 is a Newfoundland and Labrador-based renewable energy partnership affiliated with World Energy LLC, one of the world’s largest producers of green fuels. Project Nujio’qonik is a consortium of partners advancing a cost-effective, safety-focused green hydrogen/ammonia production facility on the west coast of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Project Nujio’qonik aims to be Canada’s first commercial green hydrogen/ammonia producer created from 4 Gigawatts of wind energy in one of the world’s best wind resource regions. Project Nujio’qonik’s partners are CFFI Ventures, Columbus Capital, World Energy LLC, Horizon Maritime, and SK ecoplant. https://worldenergygh2.com/
About Abraxas Power: Abraxas Power is a pioneering energy transition developer focused on decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors and creating value by solving the current and future challenges of the energy transition. Abraxas Power’s broad mandate allows it to see opportunities across technologies and geographies to transform the global energy industry. Our team has extensive experience in leading, financing, and solving the challenges associated with energy transition, and a proven track record of delivering complex, large-scale development projects across various disciplines, including renewable power and storage, hydrogen and ammonia production, industrial and precious metals, large-scale project construction, and operations at scale. The team possesses strong project finance and capital markets experience and has a history of creating value for shareholders, stakeholders, and the communities they live in. Abraxas has signed strategic partnerships with various global strategics and technology providers. Abraxas has secured over US$9 billion in capital projects through competitive government awards over the past year in furtherance of the energy transition, including our marquis Exploits Valley Renewable Energy Corporation (“EVREC”) project. To learn more, visit www.abraxaspower.com Contact: info@abraxaspower.com
About CertifHy: CertifHy is a frontrunner in the realm of renewable hydrogen and e-fuels’ certification, providing a comprehensive suite of tools to empower stakeholders engaged in the energy transition. It operates two schemes — the CertifHy EU Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBO) Voluntary Scheme and the CertifHy Non-Governmental Certificate (NGC) Scheme — which aim to verify the sustainability and origin of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen and its derivatives. CertifHy also offers pre-certification, which familiarizes companies with the data collection and documentation process required for official certification, and an in-house learning platform — CertifHy Academy — to equip Economic Operators and Certification Bodies with the expertise needed to navigate the complex landscape of hydrogen certification. It fosters collaboration through its Stakeholder Platform, which invites representatives of the industry, government, and academia to shape the future development of hydrogen certification systems. Together, CertifHy’s robust certification schemes and knowledge-building resources pave the way for a cleaner energy future. For more information, visit www.certifhy.eu
About Bureau Veritas: Bureau Veritas is a world leader in inspection, certification, and laboratory testing services with a powerful purpose: to shape a world of trust by ensuring responsible progress. With a vision to be the preferred partner for customers’ excellence and sustainability, the company innovates to help them navigate change. Created in 1828, Bureau Veritas’ 83,000 employees deliver services in 140 countries. The company’s technical experts support customers to address challenges in quality, health and safety, environmental protection, and sustainability. Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the CAC 40 ESG, CAC Next 20, SBF 120 indices and is part of the CAC SBT 1.5° index. Compartment A, ISIN code FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI. For more information, visit www.bureauveritas.com, and follow us on Twitter (@bureauveritas) and LinkedIn
About Hinicio: Hinicio is a strategic and technical consulting firm specializing in the energy transition, mobility, and industrial sustainability. Recognized globally for its expertise in hydrogen and its derivatives, the firm services clients across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas. Since 2006, it has helped public and private organizations formulate their corporate and national strategies, develop public policies, make investment decisions, and execute complex projects related to hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, e-mobility, e-fuels, eSAF, and CCUS across the entire value chain. Over the past 15 years, Hinicio has contributed its expertise to more than 700 studies in over 35 countries. Hinicio is headquartered in Brussels, Belgium and has offices in Washington, D.C., Paris, Rotterdam, Santiago de Chile, and Bogota, with additional commercial representation in Mexico.
About TÜV SÜD: Founded in 1866, the TÜV SÜD Group has evolved into a global enterprise. About 28,000 employees work at over 1,000 locations in about 50 countries to continually improve technology, systems and expertise. We contribute significantly to making technical innovations such as Industry 4.0, autonomous driving and renewable energy safe and reliable. To help society achieve sustainable development, we collaborate closely with our customers. With our experience in the certification of sustainable fuels for more than a decade and the development of the world’s first globally applicable standard for the certification of green hydrogen (CMS 70) back in 2011, we are honored to contribute our many years of experience in this sector to these pioneering projects. tuvsud.com
