Fortescue breaks ground on $550 million green hydrogen hub in Arizona, USA

Australian miner Fortescue has broken ground on the company's $550 million US venture to produce green hydrogen, the first of its planned green energy investments in North America.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Andrew Forrest, Fortescue Executive Chair and Founder, praised US commitment to the energy transition, but cautioned there is more work to be done. "The US has made serious strides in attracting global investment in green hydrogen and decarbonization projects, like Fortescue's solar and wind-powered Arizona Hydrogen facility. Fortescue is unashamedly a first-mover in this space, the world needs us to move quickly," he said.

Analysts estimate Fortescue's two-year construction phase of the project --- renamed Arizona Hydrogen --- could create up to 2,244 direct, indirect, and induced jobs that could earn $124.2 million in wages, while adding $187.8 million to Arizona's state GDP.

Arizona Hydrogen, being set up on a 158-acre site, will produce up to 11,000 tonnes of liquid green hydrogen annually. The project is positioned to contribute to the decarbonization of the heavy-duty on-road transportation sector: the US southwest consumes approximately 5 billion gallons of diesel annually in heavy-duty transport.

Fortescue has announced a slew of projects in North America, including:

• A $35 million investment to kickstart a US Advanced Manufacturing Center in Michigan
• The formation of Fortescue Capital, a new green energy investment accelerator platform, headquartered in New York
• The Arizona Hydrogen project
• The Centralia project, which received a boost from its selection by the US Department of Energy for funding as part of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub