The ongoing study, which will begin in January of 2007, will see post-graduate students from UW analyze a wide array of key technical and policy areas required to move Ontario's hydrogen economy forward.

The Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA) and The Hydrogen Village have also joined as strategic partners of the new program.

"It is our view that hydrogen will be the fuel of the future and it makes perfect sense that some of our future leaders will help its development," said Duncan Hawthorne, Bruce Power's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"By working closely with the University of Waterloo, I believe we can take a leadership role in understanding the many complex issues surrounding hydrogen commercialization and move forward together."

Bruce Power has made an initial $75,000 commitment to help establish the study, whose first area of focus will be examining off-peak hydrogen production from nuclear power and distributive electricity generation. The company will now work with UW to secure additional funding from business, labour and government while the scope and size of the program is finalized over the next several months.

"Waterloo is excited that Bruce Power has taken the lead to launch such a breakthrough initiative with the university," said Assistant Professor Dr. Michael Fowler, who will co-ordinate a number of faculty members to supervise students during their hydrogen economy research.

"Developing Ontario's hydrogen economy will require strategic investments to ensure we create the capability to move this sector forward," Dr. Fowler said. "Clean hydrogen technology and clean nuclear power are a powerful combination for addressing our air quality and climate change issues."

Dr. Fowler anticipates the hydrogen program will involve several university departments, including Environmental Studies, Chemical, Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Alexander (Sandy) Stuart, Chairman of the Canadian Hydrogen Association, praised the new program, saying, "This partnership will serve to strengthen the research, development and innovation linkages among industry and academia and will build Canadian strength with hydrogen systems. The CHA is pleased to facilitate and support such relationships."

Ry Smith, Manager of the Hydrogen Village, also expressed his enthusiasm at being involved in the program.

"We are very excited about the leadership Bruce Power is taking with the establishment of this study at the University of Waterloo," Smith said. "Our organization was developed to create markets for hydrogen and fuel cell technology. This program will start to develop the capability to support these emerging markets. There is no doubt that nuclear is an essential piece of a secure, comprehensive and clean electricity mix to support future hydrogen production."

About Bruce Power

Bruce Power is a partnership among Cameco Corporation, TransCanada Corporation, BPC Generation Infrastructure Trust, a trust established by the Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, the Power Workers' Union and The Society of Energy Professionals.

About the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering

Waterloo Engineering is widely recognized as a premier engineering school, providing top-quality education to undergraduate and graduate students and conducting leading-edge research. An outward-looking approach informs its system of co-operative education, its research goals, and its network of partnerships. Currently, Waterloo Engineering is home to about 225 professors, 1,100 graduate students, and 5,100 undergraduate students and has over 27,000 alumni.

About the CHA

The Canadian Hydrogen Association (CHA) is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes the production, transportation, storage and application of hydrogen in its myriad applications and encourages the development of industrial hydrogen and hydrogen energy systems to improve the environment.

About The Hydrogen Village

The Hydrogen Village is a public private partnership in the GTA focussed on leading the way to a green and sustainable energy future by raising awareness and breaking down barriers to markets for hydrogen, fuel cell and other relevant technologies.