Fortescue is leading the green industrial revolution by developing the technologies to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors (like our iron ore operations) while building a global portfolio of renewable energy projects.
We’ll help our planet step beyond fossil fuels by harnessing the world’s renewable energy resources to produce renewable electricity, green hydrogen, green ammonia and other green industrial products such as green iron.
What is green hydrogen?
Although its supply is infinite, hydrogen is not commonly found in its pure form in nature. It can be manually produced through a process called electrolysis. This process requires electricity and when achieved using renewable energy resources like solar, wind, hydropower or geothermal energy with zero carbon dioxide emissions, the result is green hydrogen.
How is it made?
Electrolysis is achieved by running electricity through demineralised water to split the water into green hydrogen and oxygen.
The resulting oxygen is released back into the atmosphere, and the green hydrogen can be used domestically or exported for uses around the globe.
How is green hydrogen used?
Green hydrogen is a practical and implementable solution that will revolutionise the way we power our planet, while decarbonising heavy industry and creating jobs globally. Green hydrogen can help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy haulage, shipping and industry. It could be:
- Used to power hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles, including trucks and drill rigs – particularly for long distances and heavy haulage
- Used to create synthetic aviation fuels to replace aviation kerosene, or as hydrogen in fuel-cells, helping to decarbonise the aviation industry
- Used to replace fossil fuel-based hydrogen in industrial processes
- Made into green ammonia for use as a fuel for shipping and rail and to create green fertilisers for the agriculture industry
Fortescue will use green hydrogen to decarbonise our company’s mining and shipping fleet. We’ve announced a goal to reach real zero by 2030, positioning the company as a leader in addressing the global climate change challenge. Producing green hydrogen is key to achieving this goal.
Is green hydrogen safe?
Many of green hydrogen’s properties make it safer to handle and use than other commonly used fuels. Hydrogen is:
- Non-toxic
- Unable to combust without an oxidiser such as oxygen Able to dissipate rapidly, because it is much lighter than air
- Hydrogen flames have a lower radiant heat than other typical fuel sources. This makes them less likely to spread and create secondary fires.
- The requirements for the safe production, storage and use of hydrogen are widely understood. Fortescue’s hydrogen processing infrastructure will follow the principle of inherently safer design; ensuring hazards are eliminated where possible, reduced through substitution or controlled through engineering solutions.
Transporting green hydrogen
Green hydrogen can be safely transported:
- As a compressed gas and sent by pipelines, truck or rail transport
- Liquefied at a very low temperature and sent as liquid green hydrogen in marine tankers, trucks or rail
- Converted into ammonia, synthetic hydrocarbons or liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs) or methyl cyclohexane (MCH) and sent by chemical tanker ship.
