Fortescue Metals will be shifting machines from diesel to alternative energies

With an A $ 1 million grant from the state of Western Australia, Fortescue Metals Group (ASX: FMG) said Monday that their future bus transportation fleet will be powered by fuel cell technology. The Australian iron ore miner is adding 10 full-size hydrogen touring coaches custom built by HYZON Motors to replace the existing fleet of diesel touring coaches in Christmas Creek from mid-2021. As the company announced, the buses will be supported by the installation of a gas station that will use renewable electricity from the Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid Project to generate renewable hydrogen on site. Fortescue vice chairman Julie Shuttleworth said the effort is a step towards the company's net zero emissions by 2040. "As a major energy consumer, we are actively looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and cost base, and we expect hydrogen to play a key role. Fortescue's mobile fleet represents approximately 400-450 million liters of diesel consumption per year and offers a significant Opportunity to use hydrogen as a substitute fuel source to accelerate emissions reductions and diversify our energy mix, "said Shuttleworth. The project was funded by the Australian Government's Renewable Hydrogen Fund with AUD 1 million. In October, Anglo American reached out to ENGIE, a low-carbon energy company, to help develop the first ever hydrogen-powered mining vehicle. The 300-ton truck will be converted to run on hydrogen. ENGIE will supply the hydrogen generation technology while Anglo American will develop the truck.