Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), the green energy subsidiary of Andrew Forrest-owned Australian iron ore firm Fortescue Metals Group, has completed construction of its first Australian-made hydrogen electrolyzer prototype.
The company says it plans to begin producing the devices at its new facility in Gladstone, Queensland, later this year. FFI is now looking at using its own Australian-made polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) technology following a deal with US-based Plug Power that fell through last year.
FFI CEO Mark Hutchinson said the company was the first in Australia to build an electrolyzer manufacturing facility of this kind, and that it was completed on time and under budget. The Gladstone facility aims to produce 2GW of electrolyzer capacity per year, supplying both domestic and international projects.
Hutchinson added that by the end of 2023, FFI could reach financial investment decisions (FID) on at least five major hydrogen projects across the world, including green hydrogen for heavy transport in the US and green ammonia for local fertilizer use in Kenya.
He called on the Australian government to match the incentives and support mechanisms unveiled by the US government’s Inflation Reduction Act to ensure both fossil fuels and green energy are on an equal footing.
Source: RENEW ECONOMY
Image Source: FFI (2021)