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There is new energy around the North Atlantic Refining Corporation’s proposed wind-hydrogen project, following its release from the environmental assessment earlier this month.
“This is something that we’re, you know, very… bullish on and we see it as a big part of our future,” North Atlantic vice president responsible for capital projects Jeff Murphy told CBC News.
The Avalon Isthmus Green Energy Project would include a 45-turbine, onshore wind farm near Sunnyside, with transmission lines to an industrial property at Come by Chance and new hydrogen and chemical manufacturing facilities.
The company plans to use the wind power it generates to make hydrogen as well as a product that can be shipped overseas, known as a liquid organic hydrogen carrier.
Environmental review started in July 2025 and Minister of Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Chris Tibbs issued notice May 15 the process was complete.
Murphy said they’re now adding staff and getting further into engineering and design work.
A search for engineering firms for the work began at the start of the year. Contracts for front end engineering and design are expected to be announced soon. Over the following nine months to a year, that work will provide specifics essential to narrowing in the project’s final cost and schedule estimates, which is important for financing.
The company recently signed a memorandum of understanding with HES International to work on establishing an import route to Europe for future products, through the Port of Wilhelmshaven. HES International has a liquid bulk storage terminal at the deep-water port in Germany.
A final investment decision — the ‘go’ or ‘no’ — on North Atlantic’s wind-hydrogen project is tentatively expected in the first quarter of 2027.
The project was released from environmental assessment with a seven-page list of conditions, including a requirement to maintain a 50-metre buffer of vegetation around waterbodies and wetlands in the project area, for example, and submit specific updates and management plans as the project proceeds.
EnergyNL CEO Charlene Johnson told CBC News she sees the release from environmental assessment for North Atlantic as a milestone for companies hoping to service a wind-to-fuels sector in the province.
“North Atlantic has demonstrated a clear commitment to developing this project in consultation with the adjacent communities, local businesses, and EnergyNL members, and doing so, with a commitment to the highest [environmental, social and corporate governance] standards,” she said.
North Atlantic has recently grown its ranks from about 140 to what is now nearing 500 people. That’s not including another roughly 1,500 full-time equivalent positions and associated contractors in France, where North Atlantic Refining Ltd. has purchased the Gravenchon oil refinery.
Newfoundland and Labrador Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott said the province has noted the additions.
“I mean their growth has been phenomenal. They’re something to watch. They’re a real shining star here in Newfoundland lately,” he said.
He’s encouraged by North Atlantic’s news and aspects of their proposal setting them apart from past, challenged projects, like their end product being a liquid organic hydrogen carrier instead of ammonia and planned shipments from an existing industrial property.
At the same time, when it comes to wind-hydrogen projects broadly, he acknowledges the on-and-off headlines of the past few years.
In February, Parrott was getting questions about the viability of wind-hydrogen, when World Energy GH2, EverWind and Toqlukuti’k Wind and Hydrogen were stripped of Crown land reserves for not paying land reserve fees.
“When it comes to the hydrogen stuff, the whole idea we had a couple of years ago, how big this was going to be, I don’t think that the world is ready for it quite yet,” he said this week.
He said he’s personally approaching wind-hydrogen conversations “very cautiously,” wanting to see energy business success stories but also being cognizant of what it will take to bring these megaprojects into reality. He’s trying not to overhype anything.
“We want businesses that come to Newfoundland and succeed. And we want them to employ Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and be prosperous for many years to come,” he said.
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