Christmas Creek Renewable Hydrogen Mobility Project
Christmas Creek Renewable Hydrogen Mobility Project
Fortescue has moved to replace its fleet of diesel coaches at its Christmas Creek iron ore mine in the Pilbara region with hydrogen fuel-cell powered coaches.
| Main proponents:
Fortescue |
Main end-use classification:
Hydrogen mobility |
Status:
Operating – August 2024 |
Estimated cost:
AUD$33.8 million |
| Other involvement:
|
Production details:
Hydrogen production – two 700kW electrolysers are designed to produce around 530 kilograms of hydrogen gas per day |
Location:
Western Australia, Australia |
Announced funding:
AUD$2 million – Western Australian Government Renewable Hydrogen Fund (capital works project) |
Project description
Fortescue has moved to replace its fleet of diesel coaches at its Christmas Creek iron ore mine in the Pilbara region of Western Australia with ten full-size hydrogen fuel-cell powered coaches, with Hyzon Motors supplying the custom build hydrogen fuel-cell coaches.
The project will utilise the proponent’s existing renewables-based hydrogen production infrastructure at its Christmas Creek operations Green Energy Hub (which includes production, storage and refuelling infrastructure for both gaseous and liquid hydrogen, with the latter supporting Fortescue’s hydrogen-powered haul truck prototype).
The hydrogen supply is being produced onsite through an electrolysis system using electricity supplied by the Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid Project which includes a 60 MW solar photovoltaic generation facility located at Fortescue’s Chichester Hub iron ore operations.
The Green Energy Hub includes two 700kW electrolysers which are designed to produce around 530 kilograms of hydrogen gas per day. The produced hydrogen gas will supply the needs of this hydrogen-fuel cell coach mobility project as well as (after liquefaction) the liquid hydrogen to power the haul truck prototype.
The Christmas Creek Renewable Hydrogen Mobility Project was officially announced as operational in August 2024.
In August 2020, the Western Australian Government announced that AUD$2 million in funding was allocated to Fortescue’s Renewable Hydrogen Mobility project in the Pilbara region.
Reviewed (based on publicly available information): October 2024