First Hydrogen Applauds Canada's Fast-Tracking of Darlington SMR; Sees Strong Alignment with Company's SMR Green Energy Strategy

Core Viewpoint - First Hydrogen Corp. supports Canada's fast-tracking of the Darlington Small Modular Reactor (SMR) project, aligning with its green energy strategy and aiming to be a leader in SMR technology [1][3]. Group 1: Company Developments - First Hydrogen Corp. is collaborating with the University of Alberta to optimize SMR design and fuel materials, addressing the growing energy demands of AI data centers, which are projected to increase global power demand by 50% by 2027 and 165% by 2030 [2]. - The company launched First Nuclear Corp. in March 2025 to integrate SMR power with electrolysis for green hydrogen production, targeting off-grid and industrial sites [3]. - First Hydrogen has developed two hydrogen fuel-cell-powered light commercial vehicles (FCEV) that have completed 6,000 km of testing and achieved a range of over 630 kilometers on a single refueling [5]. Group 2: Industry Context - The Darlington SMR project is positioned as a national priority for Canada, aiming to make it the first G7 country with an operational SMR, which supports the country's energy infrastructure and climate goals [1][4]. - SMRs are designed to be factory-built and suitable for small-scale applications, providing energy for approximately 300,000 homes [1]. - The anticipated US$720 billion in grid spending through 2030 highlights the significant investment needed to support the growing energy demands, particularly from data centers [2].