Fortescue has officially opened its electrolyser manufacturing plant in Gladstone, Queensland, making it one of the first worldwide to feature an automated assembly line.
Fortescue announced the 15,000sqm advanced manufacturing facility, constructed and fully commissioned in just over 2 years, will have capacity to produce over 2GW of Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyser stacks annually.
At the Gladstone facility, electrolysers will be employed to separate hydrogen and oxygen by conducting an electrical current through water, comprised of both molecules.
“We know that technology in this space moves very quickly so as well as producing electrolysers today, this facility also provides an amazing environment for our team to learn and then leverage that experience to drive innovation and develop the solutions of tomorrow,” said Fortescue executive chair and founder Dr Andrew Forrest AO.
Forrest added with the funding from the Queensland and Federal government, Fortescue has been able to lay the cornerstone for what will be a massive new manufacturing industry in Australia creating the potential for thousands of new green energy jobs.
The electrolyser facility will be Australia’s first manufacturing facility to build electrolysers at a commercial scale.
Hon. Ed Husic, minister for industry and science commented on the official opening: “This demonstrates our commitment to a Future Made in Australia, while also helping the country make the transition to net zero.
Fortescue Energy chief executive Mark Hutchinson said the Gladstone facility, which produces electrolysers designed in-house by Fortescue teams in Australia and the United States, establishes the company as an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).
“This facility positions Fortescue and Gladstone as a large-scale producer of what will be an increasingly sought-after commodity in the global shift to green energy,” said Hutchinson.
The development of the site was enabled by support from the Queensland Government, including the provision of an electrical sub-station, road network, communications and local scheme water connection, as well as the allocation of land.
The Australian Government also contributed $44m from the Collaboration Stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative.
“We are grateful for the Queensland and Federal Government’s vision and early support to help get us started”, said Forrest.
The electrolyser facility is the first stage of a wider Green Energy Manufacturing Centre being developed by Fortescue on the 100-hectare Gladstone site, the next phases of which will also include a hydrogen system testing facility and Fortescue’s PEM50 green hydrogen project.
“We will continue to research, manufacture, source and invest in new electrolyser technologies across the world to give us the best possible competitive position,” said Hutchinson.
Hydrogen is diverse and can be used in a range of ways including transport fuel, for industrial heating, and as a feedstock for other chemicals such as methanol.
The centre is set to be one of the largest in the world, Premier Steven Miles said, “It will be by far Australia’s largest manufacturer of hydrogen electrolysers and one of the largest in the world.”
Fortescue revealed more than 100 jobs were created during the construction process, with the facility and wider Centre to ultimately underpin over 300 direct and indirect jobs.
Energy minister Mick de Brenni commented on the job opportunities: “Having local manufacturing capability and energy independence has never been more important, and this project helps to achieve both.”
The opening of this Electrolyser facility marks Gladstone as Australia’s hydrogen capital.
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