Brent Lakeman, Executive Director of the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB, recently joined the award-winning Executive Wins podcast to share how the Edmonton region is leading the clean energy evolution.

From building Canada’s first hydrogen hub to launching the 5,000 Hydrogen Vehicle Challenge, Brent breaks down how the HUB is creating an ecosystem for profitable, sustainable hydrogen development — and attracting global investment along the way.

Ultimately, this discussion was about more than addressing policy — it was about how collaboration at all levels can fuel economic growth.

Brent emphasized that building a hydrogen economy is not just about producing fuel — it’s about enabling a comprehensive system of infrastructure, regulation, skilled labour, and public support.

“It’s not just about producing hydrogen. It’s about the demand; the training; infrastructure; public trust; and enabling policies,” Brent said. “That’s why this ecosystem approach is so essential.”

Mapping a hydrogen economy

In many cases, hydrogen is a viable solution in hard-to-abate sectors— such as freight transport, industrial heat, and large-scale logistics. But to unlock that potential, the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB is focused on mapping out all the players who need to be involved, from engineers and fleet operators to insurers, regulators, and safety professionals.

One example Brent shared was first responders.

“First responders are a vital part of the hydrogen ecosystem,” Brent said. “If we’re going to scale safely and effectively, we need to engage them early, provide the right training, and ensure they’re fully prepared to support this transition.” This proactive planning extends to areas like workforce retraining, cross-sector adoption, and value-added manufacturing. Companies traditionally focused on traditional energy are now exploring hydrogen-related opportunities — a pivot that could diversify Alberta’s industrial base while building on our decades of experience in the energy sector.

“There are companies [in Alberta] that have been manufacturing parts for oil and gas for decades — and now they’re seeing new opportunity in hydrogen,” Brent noted.

From vision to reality

The HUB is also actively building hydrogen transportation corridors across Western Canada and supporting municipalities and private fleets in hydrogen adoption.

One major initiative moving this work forward is the Western Canada Hydrogen Corridors Initiative — a strategic effort led by the Edmonton Region Hydrogen HUB, with funding from Alberta Ecotrust Foundation, Emissions Reduction Alberta, and Alberta Innovates.

“We recognized early on that if we’re going to have hydrogen trucks on the road, it’s not enough to work in isolation,” Brent said. “It’s about building a larger ecosystem — one that stretches from Edmonton to Calgary, Prince George, Fort McMurray, even Prince Rupert.”

By working closely with municipalities, private fleets, and infrastructure developers, the HUB is laying the groundwork for a viable commercial hydrogen transport network — one that will not only reduce emissions but also generate long-term economic opportunities across the supply chain.

“We’ve come a long way in just four years,” Brent said. “But the next five will be about acceleration — scaling pilots, deepening partnerships, and staying connected to new segments.”

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