Montem Resources appoints renewables expert to lead energy transition steering committee
Power industry expert Will Bridge will chair Montem’s new committee to develop Tent Mountain into a green hydrogen project.
Following on from its newly unveiled strategy to become Canada’s first large-scale green hydrogen producer, Montem Resources (ASX: MR1) has announced the appointment of Will Bridge as chair of its Tent Mountain energy transition steering committee.
The company had initially focused on developing a hard coking coal project at Tent Mountain in Alberta, Canada, but last week announced a change of focus to green hydrogen production via combined pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) and renewable off-site wind power.
Mr Bridge is an experienced power industry executive and corporate director with a track record of strategic leadership and growth in domestic and international markets including Canada, the United States, Mexico, Chile, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Previous roles included chair of the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO) and board positions with the Canadian Electricity Association, the Alberta Chamber of Resources, the Association of Power Producers of Ontario, and PaceKids School for Children with Motor Disabilities.
Mr Bridge currently serves as chair of the board for Calgary Housing Company, as a director for the Fusion Energy Council of Canada and as an advisor to founders of new energy-focused companies. He has been a senior advisor to Montem since mid-2021.
Montem managing director Peter Doyle said Mr Bridge has provided valuable insights into the commercialisation of the idea to transition Tent Mountain into a renewable energy complex.
“The fact that this project can attract the calibre of professionals such as Will Bridge, speaks volumes to the inherent quality of the opportunity the Tent Mountain pumped hydro energy storage represents,” he said.
Steering committee
Montem’s energy transition steering committee aims to execute the strategy to drive development of the Tent Mountain Renewable Energy Complex (TM-REX), implementing a program of works to progress the project through the feasibility stage and to monetisation. The program of works will include significant involvement from Boost Energy Ventures and GHD, which will design the green hydrogen component of the TM-REX.
In addition to Mr Bridge as chair, the committee will include Montem’s chief commercial officer Robert Bell and a small group of subject matter experts across a range of technical and commercial specialties focused on renewable energy development in Alberta.
Pumped hydro energy storage project
Montem has estimated the project could produce up to 13,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually.
The company started investigating an end of mine life PHES system in 2019 and recent technical, economic and social studies have shown technical viability and strong returns over a 50-year plus project life.
It has applied to Canada’s Clean Fuels Program for C$5 million to assist funding the next phase of work including a feasibility study.
Mr Bridge said the Tent Mountain project has a “unique combination of high upper reservoir elevation and close proximity to the bulk power grid”.
“That combination is valuable and extremely rare in this province,” he added.