Fortescue brings online liquid green hydrogen plant at Australian mine

Australian mining firm Fortescue has commenced the civil works of its 'Green Metal Project' located at the 'Green Energy Hub' at Christmas Creek in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. As part of the US $50 million project, a green hydrogen plant within the site has been operationalized recently. 

The project envisages to produce more than 1,500 tonnes per annum of 'green' metal, with first production anticipated in 2025, using the renewable hydrogen produced at the gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility. 

The hydrogen facility is claimed as the largest of its kind in Australia, together with an electric smelting furnace to produce high purity green metal. This will be suitable for use in almost any steel plant globally, according to the mining giant. 

"Iron and steel are the backbone of our infrastructure, however traditional iron and steel production processes are among the largest sources of greenhouse gas emissions. By rethinking the entire iron and steel value chain we can produce an entirely new, green industry here in Australia", said Fortescue Executive Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest. 

"Today's milestone is the culmination of bringing together green sustainable mining, large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green metal. Right now, we have a once in a generation opportunity to build a green supply chain, and Fortescue is wasting no time to seize it", he noted. 

The green hydrogen plant can produce around 530 kilograms of hydrogen gas per day, or around 195 tonnes annually. Powered partly by solar during the day, the plant comprises a gaseous hydrogen refueling station (HRS) to refuel a fleet of 10 fuel cell electric vehicle hydrogen-powered coaches. The gaseous HRS was supported by the WA Government's Renewable Hydrogen Fund through a $2 million grant.

The Green Energy Hub also contains a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage, and a liquid-hydrogen refueling station, along with Fortescue's zero emissions decarbonization prototypes.

"Hydrogen and fuels made using renewable energy will have a role to play in decarbonizing mining, whether it's in buses, heavy mining equipment such as haul trucks and excavators, or producing green iron", said Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals. 

"This renewable hydrogen plant is versatile, enabling us to produce gaseous and liquid hydrogen to be used to power our mining equipment prototypes, while also providing the added benefit of refueling our fleet of coaches at Christmas Creek", he added.