Innovation Summer 2026

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS | 2025-2026

Burnaby-based Unilia (Canada) Fuel Cells Inc. partnered with Ayrton Energy to develop a commercial-scale electrochemical liquid organic hydrogen carrier (e-LOHC) system in Alberta. The system centers on two complementary COMMERCIAL-SCALE E-LOHC STACK DEVELOPMENT

electrochemical stacks: one adds hydrogen to the liquid carrier (hydrogenation), and the other releases hydrogen on demand (dehydrogenation) for industrial use. Designed and verified by Unilia’s engineering team, with system integration and LOHC testing led by Ayrton Energy and funding support from NorthX, the technology stores hydrogen safely in a stable, non pressurized liquid form under ambient conditions, that can be handled using existing chemical fuel infrastructure. By enabling efficient hydrogen storage and transportation at industrial scale, the technology provides a resilient, low-carbon energy solution for sectors facing decarbonization and energy security challenges. This work bridges lab-scale electrochemistry to deployable commercial infrastructure, validating performance, Participants: Robert Artibise, P.Eng.; John Berring, P.Eng.; Stephen Hamada; Ashley Kairu, EIT; Robert Kehoe, P.Eng.; Jacqueline Ricafrente; John Roden; Michael St. Pierre; Sharon Wong; Elise Woolliams, P.Eng.; Amy Yang, P.Eng. Ayrton: Matthew Guenther; Brandy Kinkead, PhD; Natasha Kostenuk, P.Eng. (AB). P hoto : A yRtoN e NeRGy safety, and reliability for industrial use. Company: Unilia (Canada) Fuel Cells Inc. The Tank Hill project restores a critical provincial transportation corridor while improving safety for the public through the Thompson–Fraser Canyon near Lytton, BC. Delivered within an extremely constrained corridor bounded by steep terrain, an active railway, a creek crossing, and variable geotechnical conditions, the project required innovative, climate-resilient solutions. Comprehensive rockfall protection, including anchored mesh, slope scaling, and catchment systems, mitigated ongoing geohazard risks. Sustainable design choices reduced material volumes and carbon impacts while accommodating climate change. An innovative approach to bridge design was employed where foundations were engineered to withstand maximum erosion scenarios, maintaining structural integrity under catastrophic flood conditions. Environmental stewardship included consideration of nesting osprey and impacts to sensitive ecosystems. Undertaken within Nlaka’pamux territory, the project integrated cultural monitors, and Indigenous and community collaboration throughout design and construction, ensuring safety, resilience, and respect for people and the land. THE TANK HILL PROJECT – BC HIGHWAY REINSTATEMENT PROGRAM

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Summer 2026

Innovation