In this conversation, Norman Barmeier, Senior Manager of Engineering Services at HTEC, shares lessons from more than 20 years working in clean fuels and over a decade delivering and operating hydrogen infrastructure. Drawing on experience spanning feasibility, permitting, design, construction, and day‑to‑day operations, Norm reflects on what it actually takes to deliver safe, reliable hydrogen projects, and how those lessons help de‑risk future developments.
What has it been like working at the leading edge of hydrogen infrastructure deployment?
It’s been exciting, but also challenging. When you’re working at the leading edge, there isn’t a well-established playbook, so every project comes with a lot of technical, regulatory, and operational responsibility.
One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that understanding hydrogen on paper is very different from designing, building, and operating stations in the real world. Because we operate the infrastructure we build, we bring that operational perspective into the design process from day one. We’re not just thinking about what works technically, we’re also thinking about maintenance, reliability, usability, and how the system will perform in real conditions.
A big part of the work is also helping people get comfortable with something that may be new to them. Hydrogen infrastructure is often being introduced into communities that haven’t seen it before, so questions are natural. We’ve found that being transparent early, explaining how the technology works, and walking people through the applicable safety measures, codes, and standards helps build trust and makes the process much smoother. This also includes introducing projects early and engaging with communities and First Nations landowners in a respectful and collaborative way. The same goes for working with municipalities and regulators – we’ve had the most success when we approach them as partners and stay collaborative throughout the project.
Having been involved in the development of many hydrogen infrastructure projects, what are the main lessons learned along the way?
One of the biggest lessons is that being early to market usually means working without a clear roadmap. Early budgets and schedules are often based on assumptions, so uncertainty is part of the process from the start.
A major challenge has been the regulatory side. In many cases, hydrogen wasn’t fully addressed in local bylaws or codes, which meant municipalities, regulators, and project teams had to work through new territory together. That takes time, patience, and a willingness to collaborate.
Another lesson is that system integration is often more difficult than it looks on paper. Once you start bringing new equipment into live sites, you run into real-world issues like performance gaps, throughput constraints, or environmental factors such as icing in cold and humid conditions. Those are the kinds of things that don’t always show up in design reviews or factory testing. They show up in the field, during actual operations. Over time, each of those experiences has helped us improve future projects, reduce repeat issues, and build more reliable systems.
How does this experience translate into value for HTEC Engineering Services clients?
At the end of the day, HTEC Engineering Services exists to help clients deliver hydrogen projects with fewer hurdles, and ultimately at lower costs.
A big part of that is reducing risk early. Hydrogen infrastructure projects require significant capital, so it’s important to identify technical, regulatory, and code-related issues as early as possible. Because we’ve worked through these challenges ourselves, we can often spot risks upfront and help clients avoid redesigns, delays, and unnecessary costs.
It also helps with decision-making. Hydrogen projects involve a lot of trade-offs, and it makes a real difference to have people involved who have not only designed systems, but also built and operated them. That means decisions are grounded in practical experience, not just theory.
We also understand the importance of quality systems, documentation, and compliance requirements, areas that are often underestimated early on. Putting those frameworks in place from the beginning helps prevent rework later. And when it comes to system integration, our experience helps clients anticipate challenges and bring a lot of moving parts together more smoothly, especially on first-of-a-kind projects.
How did you, as an engineer and HTEC Engineering Services, help the UBC hydrogen station project?
The UBC hydrogen station was a complex, multi-year project, and HTEC (in my role as owners engineer and hydrogen expert) played a central role in helping deliver it.
From the beginning, we worked closely with the design team to turn an ambitious architectural concept into a station that could be built safely and operated reliably. That meant making sure hydrogen codes, safety setbacks, and equipment requirements were all properly reflected in the site layout.
We also provided the technical expertise needed to integrate containerized systems across the full hydrogen value chain, from on-site hydrogen production through electrolysis, to compression, storage, and dispensing. Bringing all of those systems together required close coordination and a strong focus on process safety and risk management.
As operational permit holders with the provincial safety regulator, HTEC also led the regulatory process, working proactively with authorities to identify and resolve compliance issues early. And in our role as UBC’s owner’s engineer, we brought an independent hydrogen and operational perspective to the project, helping ensure the final station was safe, compliant, and ready to perform in the real world.
Any final thoughts you’d like to leave with readers
Hydrogen infrastructure has real potential to support climate and energy goals, but success depends on disciplined execution. In my experience, the biggest risks usually aren’t with the core technology itself; they come from underestimating siting and permitting complexity, system integration, and the realities of operating these systems day to day.
Delivering hydrogen projects safely and reliably takes more than technical knowledge. It also requires regulatory experience, operational insight, and a strong understanding of how the full supply chain comes together in practice. That’s where HTEC Engineering Services brings value: by applying lessons learned from real projects to help clients reduce risk, make better decisions, and move from concept to operation with more confidence.