Fortescue Metals Group has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hyundai Motor Company and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to advance scientific collaboration and accelerate the development of renewable hydrogen technology.

The MoU outlines areas of cooperation involving the development and future commercialisation of the metal membrane technology (MMT) developed by the CSIRO, supported by a partnership with Fortescue. Hyundai will be seeking to demonstrate the viability of the technology for renewable hydrogen production and vehicle fuelling in Korea.

MMT enables ammonia to be used as a carrier material for hydrogen storage and transport, making the transportation of low emissions hydrogen economically viable, according to Fortescue.

Fortescue has a portfolio of projects underway associated with renewable hydrogen production, storage and use, including:

• Entering a five-year partnership with the CSIRO in 2018 for the development of new hydrogen technologies, including the MMT which provides the potential for the bulk transportation of hydrogen through ammonia;
• Construction of a renewable hydrogen refuelling facility at its Christmas Creek operations to support the deployment of a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell coaches from mid-2021; and
• Partnering with ATCO Australia to build and operate the first combined green hydrogen production and refuelling facility in Western Australia, to support the transition to the next generation of zero-emission transport.

Fortescue Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Julie Shuttleworth, said: “This important strategic partnership with Hyundai and the CSIRO signals Fortescue’s ongoing commitment to the ramp up of a competitive domestic and global renewable hydrogen industry, to support the transition to a lower carbon future.

“It builds on our investment in new hydrogen technologies that ensures Fortescue is well-positioned to meet the demand for hydrogen as both an export opportunity and to contribute to the decarbonisation of our operations in the Pilbara.”

Hyundai Chief Innovation Officer, Dr Young Cho Chi, said: “This MoU will allow the realisation of the global supply of clean hydrogen, contributing to the successful transition to a hydrogen economy in Korea and Australia. This sets an example of the potential for a global hydrogen infrastructure business based on clean hydrogen.”

CSIRO Executive Director for Environment Energy and Resources, Dr Peter Mayfield, said: “A domestic and export hydrogen industry will require a highly collaborative approach. We are pleased to continue our partnership with Fortescue, alongside Hyundai, to ensure that hydrogen can play a role in supporting low emissions transport.”