A key component of Fortescue’s green metal development is the use of green hydrogen to power an electric smelting furnace. Fortescue is a passionate advocate of the global use of this clean energy source and said the company remains “steadfast” in its development despite job cuts and a reduction in its 2030 production target.
Green hydrogen is sourced from Fortescue’s gaseous and liquid hydrogen plant at Christmas Creek. The liquid hydrogen plant, which consists of a hydrogen liquefaction plant, liquid hydrogen storage facility and liquid hydrogen refuelling station, was inaugurated last week (16 August). It produces approximately 350kg of liquid hydrogen per day from two 700kW electrolysers and has approximately 600kg of storage capacity.
Fortescue explained that both Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak, an all-electric mining site nearby, will be partially powered by around 160,000 photovoltaic panels and the technology will thus contribute to the production of green metals.
Fortescue CEO Dr Andrew Forrest said iron and steel were the “backbone of our infrastructure” and redesigning the entire iron and steel value chain could create “a completely new, green industry here in Australia”.
“Today’s milestone is the culmination of bringing together green, sustainable mining, large-scale renewable energy and green hydrogen to produce green metal. Right now we have a once in a lifetime opportunity to build a green supply chain and Fortescue is wasting no time in seizing it,” added Forrest.
It is worth noting that the organisation also commissioned its 100MW North Star Junction solar farm in the Pilbara last month. The project is currently partially operational and will be located near Fortescue Metal Group’s Iron Bridge magnetite mine.
Iron Bridge produces a wet concentrate which is then transported via a 135km specialist slurry pipeline to Port Hedland where dewatering and material handling take place. There are already plans to decarbonise the plant’s operations.
