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Reports

Calgary Hydrogen Opportunity Assessment

June 2026
Authors:
  • Zak Cunningham
  • Hadi Shaker Shiran
  • Zachary Redick

Hydrogen is gaining traction worldwide as both an emissions-reduction tool and an economic development lever, particularly in sectors that are difficult to electrify. More than a tool for decarbonization, hydrogen provides an opportunity to future-proof economic growth, attract investment, and develop new industrial and energy capabilities.

Between hype from hydrogen boosters and doom-and-gloom from its detractors, understanding the real opportunity hasn’t always been easy. Our new report takes a clear-eyed look at production opportunities and pathways for low-carbon hydrogen in Calgary, along with assessing end-use applications and Calgary’s positioning to attract hydrogen investment. It identifies six key challenges facing hydrogen development, suggesting concrete actions that Calgary can take to address them and promote the development of a sustainable hydrogen ecosystem.

Authors:

Zak Cunningham

Calgary Region Hydrogen Hub Lead, The Transition Accelerator

Zachary (Zak) Cunningham holds an MSc in Sustainable Energy Development from the University of Calgary, a B.Eng (Hons) in Petroleum Engineering, and a diploma in Petroleum Engineering Technology. Zak began his career in the oil and gas industry in the field, having spent extensive time on drilling and workover rigs in Western Canada and deepwater offshore in Malaysia in various roles, leading him to spend nearly a decade living overseas in Southeast Asia. Zak strongly connects with his Métis culture and the Métis community within Alberta and is particularly interested in sustainable energy development in remote Northern communities.

Hadi Shaker Shiran

Senior Analyst, The Transition Accelerator

Hadi Shaker Shiran researches a variety of topics within the energy industry, including energy systems modelling, techno-economic and lifecycle assessments, and process design. He holds a Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, along with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Tehran Polytechnic. With a hands-on approach, he has worked on complex energy transition projects at multiple levels, from analyzing minute details such as electrocatalysis and photocatalysis to macroeconomic modelling for energy transition scenarios.

Zachary Redick

Analyst, Low-Carbon Fuels

Zachary is a transportation engineer with expertise in low-carbon systems and the net-zero transition. His work focuses on transportation systems analysis, QGIS-based spatial mapping, techno-economic modelling, and scenario development to support sustainable infrastructure planning. He has experience collaborating with industry associations, advising on net-zero policy, and presenting research at national conferences and webinars. His thesis on the net-zero transition of Alberta’s heavy-duty trucking sector was published in Transportation Research Part D, a leading journal in sustainable transportation.

He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Transportation) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, both from the University of Calgary.

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