On May 23, 2025, Alberta Innovates, InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies welcomed a delegation from Hokkaido, Japan, including Vice Governor Hamasaka, members of the Hokkaido Legislative Assembly, and other government officials and delegates. The visit focused on Alberta’s leadership in energy transition and sustainability.
The delegation was greeted by Vice President of InnoTech Alberta, Chris Kearney, setting the tone for a collaborative exchange of ideas, prior to touring two of InnoTech Alberta’s laboratories.
At the Energy and In Situ Hydrogen Lab, discussions centered on InnoTech’s role in advancing decarbonization technologies. Highlights included work on carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), particularly through the Alberta Carbon Conversion Technology Centre (ACCTC) and innovations across the hydrogen value chain, with a focus on hydrogen production.
The tour continued at the Agri-Tech and Sustainable Materials Lab, where delegates explored how Alberta is transforming waste into value-added products. The lab showcased biomaterials designed to replace plastics, engineered composites and circular economy solutions that align with global sustainability goals.
The visit concluded at C-FER Technologies, where the delegation received a company overview and toured two specialized labs: the universal testing system and the special environments lab.
At the Universal Testing System, the delegation discovered how C-FER is helping qualify large-diameter laminated pressure vessels and ship designs for transporting compressed hydrogen. Here they had the opportunity to view a specimen that used steel sourced from a Japanese manufacturer.
In the Special Environments Laboratory (SEL), they learned about C-FER’s extreme environment, large-scale testing capabilities, and small-scale systems for evaluating metal performance in hydrogen-rich conditions.
Delegates also saw C-FER’s new full-scale dynamic test setup for hydrogen pipelines, where pipe specimens undergo accelerated longevity testing through rapid pressure cycling to simulate a lifetime of pressure changes. The visit underscored Alberta’s commitment to global collaboration and innovation in clean energy and sustainability.
Many delegations tour both InnoTech Alberta and C-FER Technologies. The international ties we build are testament to Alberta’s role as a global leader in energy transition and sustainability innovation.