Eligibility Criteria

Who was eligible?

Eligible recipients were consortia formed of two or more for-profit or not-for-profit incorporated entities, partnerships, cooperatives, trusts, associations or individuals. Within each group, one eligible recipient had to be selected as the lead recipient to be the point of contact with the h2EA program and to be the entity managing the contribution agreement, including receiving and distributing to other eligible recipients of the group the contribution made pursuant to the h2EA program. The lead recipient had to be incorporated and registered pursuant to the laws of Canada.

What areas were eligible?

Demonstrations of individual technologies and their integration into a comprehensive working model of a hydrogen economy in Canada, including:

• all types of fuel cells;
• fuel cell systems;
• other hydrogen-based power-generating technologies and materials;
• technologies and materials for producing, storing and distributing hydrogen from renewable and non-renewable energy sources; and,
• working prototypes of portable, stationary, mobile and fuelling applications using hydrogen technology.

What types of costs were eligible?

Eligible costs included labour, material, overhead, insurance, equipment used to integrate the various components of the project, and other costs attributable to the project.

Costs related to operations, testing, maintenance, codes, safety and standards development, training of skilled resources, and public awareness - all of which are considered an integral part of demonstrating activity - were also considered eligible costs.

The h2EA program did not support costs associated with land and buildings.

How were projects assessed?

All applications were assessed against the objectives of the h2EA program. Specifically, the program looked for projects that:

• provided technological and broad environmental, social and economic benefits to Canada;
• supported the establishment of a hydrogen industry, including the development of clusters or supplier and support service industries, around an existing hydrogen technology base;
• were technologically feasible, and for which the group had the requisite technological and managerial experience and financial resources to achieve the project's objectives; and,
• required a contribution under the h2EA program to ensure progress was achieved towards the desired scope, timing, or location.

Contribution to market awareness and public education were also key considerations in the assessment of projects.