2026 Hydrogen East Conference Strategic Summary & Action Plan
Deloitte facilitated an engaging discussion with participants at the 2026 Hydrogen East conference focused on three key questions to reflect on the conversations during the event:
1. What stood out or surprised you? What did we hear that changes how we think? Has your perspective shifted at all?
2. What are we missing? What are we still not talking about? What are you are still wondering?
3. What practical steps are required to bring the hydrogen and clean fuels economy to life in Atlantic Canada? How do we make this real?
These discussions highlighted momentum in Atlantic Canada’s hydrogen sector alongside clear barriers to progress - particularly the absence of bankable demand, first-mover projects, and policy clarity. Participants emphasized the need to shift from planning to execution, calling for visible flagship projects, anchor demand, and de-risked early investments.
The participants advocated for a fundamental shift in approach: the era of hydrogen hype is over. What’s needed now is a disciplined focus on market execution - a pragmatic, ground-up effort to build a complex hydrogen value chain by prioritizing action and execution over further studies and analysis. They recommended focusing on advancing early, visible, right-sized first-mover projects to build momentum and demand.
The near-term priority initiatives recommended by the Hydrogen East conference participants outline a concrete action plan to guide the work of the AHA and the hydrogen sector in Atlantic Canada.