Johanne Whitmore

Chercheuse principale, systèmes et politiques énergétiques, Chaire de gestion du secteur de l’énergie, HEC Montréal

Johanne Whitmore est chercheuse principale à la Chaire de gestion du secteur de l’énergie à HEC Montréal. Elle est spécialiste des systèmes et de la gestion de l’énergie. Ses recherches portent sur l’efficacité des mesures à mettre en œuvre pour réaliser la transition énergétique et la décarbonation des économies, et sur l’application de stratégies d’économie circulaire pour y parvenir. Engagée sur ces enjeux depuis près de 20 ans, son expertise est mise à contribution dans les secteurs privé, gouvernemental et universitaire. Elle a été vice-présidente de la Table des parties prenantes du Québec sur la Transition énergétique et membre du Comité scientifique de la première étude sur la circularité de l’économie québécoise.

Elle est l’auteure de nombreuses études, dont l’État de l’énergie au Québec. En 2020, elle s’est vue décerner la distinction de Femme inspirante dans le domaine de énergie par l’Association de l’industrie électrique du Québec. Avant de rejoindre HEC Montréal, elle a travaillé en tant qu’analyste principale des politiques climatiques et énergétiques à l’Institut Pembina, se concentrant sur les initiatives de l’Alberta et du gouvernement fédéral. Elle détient une maîtrise en sciences de l’Université d’Ottawa et des formations spécialisées en gestion et développement durable de HEC Montréal.

Domaine d’expertise en matière d’hydrogène : L’hydrogène au niveau des systèmes énergétiques.

LinkedIn

Johanne Whitmore dans les médias

CNBC

A global gold rush for buried hydrogen is underway — as hype builds over its clean energy potential

The Hydrogen Science Coalition said geologic hydrogen discoveries currently supply the world with less daily energy than a single wind turbine.

The Globe and Mail

Opinion: Dreams of Canada-EU hydrogen trade are a sinking ship

Plans to trade Canadian hydrogen with Germany are riddled with hurdles – but it’s not too late for Canada to instead decarbonise its existing hydrogen industry as an achievable priority, write Paul Martin and Jochen Bard.

BNN Bloomberg

Odds of finding economically-viable natural hydrogen deposit look slim: Hydrogen Science Coalition

Natural hydrogen would present a very welcome opportunity to decarbonize current-day hydrogen production, but the situation doesn’t look promising, says Paul Martin, founding member of the Hydrogen Science Coalition.

20 minutos

España se plantea el futuro de sus joyas energéticas: adaptar las regasificadoras al hidrógeno ante un panorama con menos gas

“Conlleva muchos retos técnicos, de seguridad y económicos”, explica Paul Martin, ingeniero químico y confundador de la Hydrogen Science Coalition.

National Observer

We need to better understand hydrogen pros and pitfalls

Hydrogen production is touted by the Canadian government and others around the world as a clean alternative to fossil fuel use, but climate-impact assessments are vulnerable to miscalculations, according to new research by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

H2 View

Current lifecycle assessments ‘mask’ hydrogen’s near-term warming impact: EDF finds

Hydrogen’s near-term greenhouse effect has been masked by current assessment models, according to a new report by the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).

On Economia

Barcelona apuesta por los autobuses de hidrógeno verde que fracasan en otras ciudades

TMB compró 38 buses a Solaris de hidrógeno, que han dado problemas en Tokio, Wiesbaden, Pau y Montpellier.

La Presse

TES Canada : un appel à la transparence

Est-ce que le projet offre la meilleure utilisation de nos ressources énergétiques pour assurer un « Québec plus vert et plus prospère » ? Nous tentons d’y répondre.

Sky News

Is the fossil fuel era ending? The Climate Show with Tom Heap

“The government has done the right thing and followed scientific advice. I hope other countries will follow the UK’s lead”: Professor David Cebon speaks about the UK’s cancellation of the Redcar hydrogen heating trial.

Hydrogen Insight

OPINION | The now-scrapped Redcar hydrogen heating trial was a failure of project management and government oversight

How can any future decisions be made on H2 heating when the only remaining UK trial in Fife is not even testing the use of hydrogen in the gas network? asks Tom Baxter.

Australasian Bus & Coach

Cambridge expert warns Melbourne hydrogen buses are destined to fail

Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Cambridge University David Cebon says hydrogen buses are expensive, inefficient and destined to join an increasingly long list of failed hydrogen transport trials.

The Chemical Engineer

Viewpoint: Heating Homes with Hydrogen – a Hazard that Should be Avoided

Tom Baxter’s article “Home Hydrogen: Is it Safe?” generated a lot of interest from the chemical engineering community. Little did he suspect it would see him take part in a public debate on the subject, as a result of Whitby being selected for a domestic hydrogen trial.

Sky News

The Climate Show with Tom Heap: Hydrogen buses and trucks – the future or a non-starter?

Sky News was given exclusive access to the first British designed and built heavy goods vehicle (HGV) to be fuelled by hydrogen.

Financial Times

Europe pushes ahead with hydrogen pipelines to meet energy demand

Companies aim to transport the gas over long distances as countries cut back on fossil fuels.

CBC

What can we expect from clean hydrogen in Canada?

The industry is earning international interest, but some suggest expectations should be tempered.

The Times

Hydrogen cars were the future once – might they be again?

The clean energy gathered steam in the seventies, but after many false starts a mass market is yet to materialise.

El País

With fossil fuel boilers on the way out, heat pumps and green hydrogen jockey for position

Brussels wants all new buildings in the EU to be zero-emissions from 2028.

Cinco Días

Adiós a las calderas de gas: bombas de calor o hidrógeno verde, el futuro de la calefacción

Bruselas propone que los edificios de nueva construcción estén libres de CO2 a partir de 2028.

The Telegraph

Forcing hydrogen boilers into homes branded ‘dangerous experiment’ by peer

A peer who helped draft the UK’s Climate Change Act has described forcing households to accept hydrogen boilers as a “potentially dangerous and expensive experiment” amid a mounting Lords rebellion over the plans.

The Independent

Government must speed up decarbonisation, analysts say

Trade bodies, renewables entrepreneurs, researchers and expert analysts have said that Government policy is holding back a net zero energy system.

OECD - The Forum Network

Hydrogen’s role in the energy transition to 2050—Three evidenced-based recommendations

Hydrogen has morphed from a targeted solution to a “silver bullet” for the energy transition. But policymakers shouldn’t get caught up in the hype warn David Cebon & Johanne Whitmore, who share recommendations to ensure hydrogen plays its valuable role in the energy transition without derailing progress towards net zero.

The Times

It’s hydrogen versus heat pumps in the race to heat our homes

Some time in 2024, households in Fife will turn on their kitchen cookers and start making dinner. But there will be something different about the preparation of this meal: the flame will be yellow instead of blue. The gas burning on the stove will be hydrogen, and it will emit no carbon.

BBC News

Study contradicts Rees-Mogg over hydrogen for heating

A new study has cast doubt on government claims that hydrogen could be used to heat homes and so cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Le Devoir

Transporter de l’hydrogène jusqu’en Allemagne implique de coûteuses pertes

Le chancelier allemand, Olaf Scholz, est reparti du Canada avec la promesse que son pays obtiendrait des livraisons d’hydrogène dès 2025. Or, transporter ce carburant sur une aussi grande distance implique des pertes énergétiques qui rendent cette idée non viable, estiment des spécialistes.

Le Devoir

Le gaz naturel liquéfié canadien ne serait pas une solution à la crise européenne

À la veille de la visite du chancelier allemand au pays, des scientifiques, des experts juridiques et des environnementalistes mettent en garde la population que les projets d’exportation de gaz naturel vers l’Allemagne nuiraient aux engagements climatiques du Canada et ne constituent pas une solution à la crise énergétique en Europe.

BNN Bloomberg

We cannot repurpose LNG infrastructure for hydrogen exports: Chemical engineer

Paul Martin, chemical engineer, and co-founder of the Hydrogen Science Coalition, joins BNN Bloomberg’s Jacqueline Hansen to discuss the possibility of repurposing LNG infrastructure for hydrogen exports.

The Globe and Mail

Repurposing LNG infrastructure for hydrogen exports is not realistic

Canada’s dash to build new LNG infrastructure to export hydrogen is scientifically baseless and risks locking itself and Germany into a fossil fuel dependency.

Radio Canada

Quelle place pour l’hydrogène dans la transition énergétique?

Le potentiel de l’hydrogène serait surestimé par le gouvernement fédéral. C’est ce qu’affirme Johanne Whitmore, chercheuse principale à la Chaire de gestion du secteur de l’énergie à HEC Montréal. Madame Whitmore souligne qu’il existe de nombreuses options beaucoup plus efficaces pour atteindre nos objectifs de diminution de GES tant d’un point de vue technique que d’un point de vue économique. Même à long terme, l’hydrogène ne serait pas très prometteur.

energy monitor

Namibia stakes its future on the green hydrogen market

Namibia, a country of abundant wind and sun, has ambitions to be one of Africa’s first green hydrogen export hubs.

Diari ARA

David Cebon: “A green hydrogen bus consumes three times as much electricity as an electric bus”

Green hydrogen is often presented as the key to energy transformation, but producing it still requires a lot of energy. This is the warning scientists such as David Cebon, professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Cambridge and member of the Hydrogen Science Coalition

Recharge

NextEra unveils ‘mad’ plan to develop 16GW of hydrogen power stations in Florida

Experts puzzled by proposal from owner of Florida utility to convert its fleet of baseload natural gas-fired power stations to run on green hydrogen by 2045

financial times

Ammonia/BP: chemistry experiment may yield transports of delight

Businesses such as BP are right to explore the potential that hydrogen possesses

The Scotsman

Switch from natural gas to hydrogen for home heating will push more families into fuel poverty, expert warns

Switching to hydrogen as a replacement for climate-polluting natural gas to heat homes will push even more families into fuel poverty, could increase greenhouse gas emissions and make the country more dependent on foreign oil and gas imports, a Scottish academic is warning.

Recharge

‘High risk of stranded assets’ | Blue hydrogen ‘does not make sense’ in a gas price crisis: study

Producing H2 from methane would drive up natural-gas demand and household bills, adding to EU’s energy woes, says think-tank IEEFA

Recharge

‘Hideous propaganda’ | Ambition, realism and anger at billionaire Forrest’s big-name green hydrogen gathering

DISPATCHES | A truly global group of the great and the good convened in Barcelona to discuss hugely optimistic targets, practical challenges, hard-to-abate sectors… and the ‘liars’ promoting blue H2

FlightGlobal

Is hydrogen power the right path for aviation?

The aviation industry is focused on hydrogen as the zero emissions fuel of the future, with a 100-seater or larger airliner touted for 2035. But the challenges to make it a reality are formidable.

EL PAÍS

Usos más eficientes del hidrógeno verde

España puede ser un actor importante en este tipo de energía, pero hay que evitar destinarla a fines equivocados: cuando es posible electrificar, resulta mucho más eficiente esta opción

El Mundo

David Cebon (Universidad de Cambridge): “El hidrógeno no puede retrasar la electrificación de la economía”

Es una de las voces más cualificadas en el futuro del transporte sostenible y prevé que en 10 años las flotas de las ciudades estén electrificadas.

Recharge

‘So little attention’ | Emissions from current fossil hydrogen production on par with global aviation industry

World should focus more on eliminating CO2 from existing H2 uses than worrying about how it could be used in future, says Hydrogen Science Coalition founder

La Presse

Un appel à la réalité s’impose pour l’hydrogène vert

Le concept d’« économie de l’hydrogène » a fait surface lors de la crise énergétique des années 1970. Il évoquait une économie qui pourrait se substituer à celle du pétrole en produisant des carburants qui n’émettraient que de la vapeur d’eau. Aujourd’hui, l’engouement est mené par la lutte contre les changements climatiques et l’indépendance énergétique.

The Chemical Engineer

Experts concerned about hydrogen plans form independent advisory group

A coalition of volunteer engineers, concerned about the misapplication of hydrogen, have formed a new group to provide independent advice to governments about plans for the hydrogen economy.

bloomberg tv bulgaria

Политиките на ЕС за въглеродна неутралност са слаби

проф. Том Бакстър, гл. лектор в Университета в Абърдийн, “В развитие”, 25.01.2022

Argus

First liquefied hydrogen voyage imminent

A liquefied hydrogen carrier is preparing to leave Australia for Japan carrying the world’s first seagoing hydrogen cargo, on a milestone voyage in the development of hydrogen transport logistics.

the telegraph

Australian plan to make hydrogen using coal and ship it to Japan comes under fire

Company behind venture plans to store carbon underground but experts say using diesel or gas would generate less carbon

Upstream

Irena warns blue hydrogen investments could end up as stranded assets

There will be downsides to producing hydrogen from natural gas with CCS, not least because green hydrogen is likely to soon be cheaper, says Irena report

Euractiv

Le gouvernement allemand désavoue l’hydrogène bleu

Le nouveau gouvernement allemand a dévoilé la semaine dernière ses intentions de relever massivement ses ambitions dans le cadre de sa stratégie nationale en matière d’hydrogène. Un seul bémol : l’hydrogène issu de gaz fossiles, appelé l’hydrogène bleu, ne sera probablement pas inclus dans les programmes de subvention, et ce malgré les demandes de l’industrie pétrolière et gazière.

Quartz

Japan’s new net-zero project will use more energy than it produces

The dream of a carbon-free fuel is driving an investment boom in hydrogen and ammonia projects. Japan, for example, has pledged to reduce its emissions in line with the Paris Agreement by 2050, and plans to generate 10% of its energy needs using hydrogen and ammonia by then.

el español

Así es el ‘e-fuel’, el combustible sostenible que utilizan dos de los coches españoles del Dakar

Los combustibles sintéticos se presentan como una alternativa limpia para la movilidad del futuro, pero su empleo a gran escala plantea algunas dudas.

cnbc

Hydrogen power is gaining momentum, but critics say it’s neither efficient nor green enough

Pursuing green hydrogen as a fuel source is not the best solution for combatting climate change because it’s inefficient and is often created with carbon-emitting energy sources.

El Confidencial

Cuidado, no todo es ‘happy’ en el futuro del hidrógeno verde

Nace una coalición de expertos para velar por un futuro del hidrógeno basado en la ciencia y no en intereses particulares de empresas o gobiernos.

Recharge

New cadre aims to ‘bring concrete evidence back into H2 debate, free from industry bias’

An independent expert group of scientists, academics and engineers has today launched a new advisory body — the Hydrogen Science Coalition (HSC) — that aims to bring “concrete evidence back into the hydrogen debate, free from industry bias”.

H2 View

‘World’s first’ hydrogen coalition launched with plans to support governments with integrating hydrogen technologies

The “world’s first” independent coalition on hydrogen’s role in the energy transition has been launched today (Dec 9). Dubbed the Hydrogen Science Coalition, the group is a voluntary coalition of experts and aims to provide recommendations for governments to integrate hydrogen technologies in the best way possible.

Sky News

The UK’s quest for net zero: Can carbon capture finally fulfil its promise?

Carbon capture storage offers a vital tool in the the road to net zero but current efforts are dwarfed by the size of the challenge and the UK is littered with pilot projects that fell by the wayside. Can the technology finally fulfil its promise?

Recharge

‘Hydrogen for heating and road transport is not efficient and does not make economic sense’

A group of concerned scientists write an open letter to the UK government to warn of the inefficiencies and added expense of using H2 in sectors where electric alternatives are cheaper.

The Independent

Scientists ‘concerned’ over government plans for hydrogen home heating

Letter to prime minister says government should take a cautious approach to fossil-fuel based ‘blue hydrogen’, Daisy Dunne reports.

Financial Times

UK’s hydrogen energy push could be subsidised by taxpayer

UK taxpayers could subsidise the production of “low carbon” hydrogen to make it as cheap as natural gas, as ministers seek to persuade a range of sectors to switch away from fossil fuels.

Fortune

Hydrogen isn’t a panacea for the carbon economy

On Tuesday, the U.K. outlined its plan for building a hydrogen economy, pledging to develop subsidy schemes that would incentivize $5 billion of investment into the industry by 2030. According to the government’s projections, the British domestic hydrogen industry could generate $18 billion of value added, create 100,000 new jobs and power 35% of the U.K.’s energy consumption by 2050.

The Telegraph

Billions to be funnelled into hydrogen subsidies as UK races to hit net zero

Billions of pounds of households’ money is to be funnelled into hydrogen production as Britain battles to create a market in the clean-burning gas.

China Daily

Fears raised over impact of blue hydrogen

A study by two major universities in the United States has claimed that the alternative fuel source that is widely expected to form a central part of the British government’s new hydrogen strategy, coming out later this year, is in fact more damaging to the environment than burning natural gas.

S&P Global Platts

New study questions climate sense of blue hydrogen in UK strategy

A scientific paper released Aug. 12 that said low-carbon hydrogen in heating was significantly worse for the environment than using natural gas poses a challenge for the UK’s forthcoming hydrogen strategy, expected to include support for both low-carbon and renewable production.

Wall Street Journal

Big Oil Companies Push Hydrogen as Green Alternative, but Obstacles Remain

Big oil companies have long touted hydrogen energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions. Now they are grappling with how to make that a reality.

Reuters

Hydrogen: Gamechanger or Overhyped?

Governments across the globe have bet big on hydrogen, making it the “rockstar of the energy system” and a leading solution to decarbonize hard to abate sectors. But, with costs of low carbon and green hydrogen remaining high, huge infrastructure needs, and efficiency concerns, is the hype merited?

Reuters Events: tune into hour-long panel debate Hydrogen: Gamechanger or Overhyped?

The Times (UK)

Fossil fuel companies ‘misleading’ Boris Johnson on green hydrogen

Boris Johnson is being misled by Britain’s multibillion-pound fossil fuel lobby into backing climate change policies that risk unnecessarily pushing up energy bills and undermining carbon targets, leading scientists warn today.