Fuel transition pathways: assessing hydrogen blending in canadian household natural gas supplies

Decarbonizing residential energy systems is critical for Canada to reach its net-zero emissions targets by 2050. This study presents a techno-economic assessment of blending green hydrogen into residential natural gas pipelines across Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan, and British Columbia. Hybrid energy systems integrating 150 kW of solar PV, ten 20 kW wind turbines, battery storage, and electrolyzers were optimally sized to supply hydrogen injection rates of 10% and 20% for 500 households. Results show that annual CO2 emissions can be reduced by 18–30% compared to 100% natural gas, with Alberta achieving the largest absolute reduction of 620 t/year at 20% hydrogen blending. Net present costs range from $0.54 M to $1.33 M, depending on province and blend level, while the levelized cost of hydrogen varies from $1.53 to $2.60 per kg H2. Summer daylight hours nearly eliminate grid electricity reliance, but winter nights increase grid shares to 34–66% across regions. Sensitivity analysis indicates that improved solar resources can lower hydrogen cost by up to 24%, whereas high grid prices can raise total costs by over 150%. Hydrogen demand ranges from 9.5 to 25.8 tonnes annually, depending on province and blend.