In a bid to establish a green metal supply chain, Fortescue, a metal mining company, has initiated work on its Green Metal Project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Situated at the Green Energy Hub in Christmas Creek, the $50 million project is set to produce over 1,500 tonnes of green metal annually, with the first output expected by 2025.
The plant will utilise green hydrogen, generated at Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen facility alongside an electric smelting furnace to produce high-purity green metal, suitable for global steel plants.
Fortescue Executive Chairman, Dr Andrew Forrest AO said “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.”
He added, “Today’s milestone is the culmination of bringing together green sustainable mining, large-scale renewable power and green hydrogen to produce green metal.”
Fortescue’s newly commissioned green hydrogen plant can produce approximately 530 kilograms of hydrogen gas daily, or around 195 tonnes annually. Partially powered by solar energy, the plant features a gaseous hydrogen refuelling station (HRS) to support a fleet of 10 hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle coaches, with support from the WA Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Fund through a $2 million grant.
The Green Energy Hub also includes a hydrogen liquefaction facility, liquid hydrogen storage, and a liquid hydrogen refueling station, alongside Fortescue’s zero-emissions decarbonisation prototypes.
“Fortescue is moving at rapid speed to decarbonise and the completion of our hydrogen facility, which is the largest gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant on any mine site in Australia, is testament to our commitment to leading heavy industry in decarbonising,” Fortescue Metals Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto said.
He added, “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 refuelling our fleet of coaches at Christmas Creek.”
The liquid hydrogen plant will power Fortescue’s Offboard Power Unit and the recently arrived hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype at Christmas Creek. The Green Energy Hub also houses Fortescue’s prototype battery electric haul truck and a three-megawatt fast charger prototype.