In an interview by Cleaning Up with Fortescue’s Dr Andrew Forrest we get a perspective of where the development of green hydrogen progress and challenges are. A wide ranging interview traversed a number of issues, with the conclusion that Fortescue (FMG) had changed direction on being hydrogen for everything to some very specific use applications.
- Green Steel
- Ammonia to power ships
- Hydrogen for long distance energy transport.
Not that all previous use cases for H2 were terrible ideas, but some just aren’t good ones, and others are still a long way off. The key point is this: we need to focus on reducing emissions now, even as we invest in longer-term R&D. But the priority has to be real, immediate reductions. Prof. Joseph Romm,UPenn Center for Science, Sustainability, and the Media.
Key Points on Green Hydrogen Progress
- New data makes old data irrelevant
- For huge vehicles and ships, the industry needs hydrogen as a fuel
- FMG has spent 8 years failing and now seeing wins
- Electrolysers were the size of a room, and FMG now has them the size of a chair.
- Electrolyser efficiency has increased from 60-70% to 96%
- Wastage of electricity has decreased from 40% to less than 4%
- Commercialisation of these electrolysers in 2026.
- Biofuels or anything with a C in the molecule has a big problem for climate change.
- With Williams Batteries can charge a racing car in 20 seconds.
- Batteries will not answer the energy demand for massive industrial heating or world shipping.
- Batteries at 10-15% of their penetration and have got 500% to go.
- FMG uses H2 fuel cells as boosters for electricity. Transport H2 to the fast charger.
- Hydrogen – key benefit is you can make it anywhere, all over the world, anytime you like.
- Sending energy by cable has substantial loss of 10% to 15% whereas loss of gas is 1%
- H2 for shipping will be ammonia.
- Ammonia is not nice, but neither is petrol. Use 2 skins and systems to detect links
- Nuclear on ships is not feasible.
Other Technologies
Other technologies are just a way to stall achievement of zero.
- Agricultural emissions
- System emissions
- Nuclear
- Geoengineering
If you want to save your planet, stop burning fossil fuel. There’s every single technology available
Green Steel Plans
Fortescue is designing out a power system for green steel
- Size of Germany
- 100% green
- 24/7 base load.
Hydrogen Ladder
The hydrogen ladder from Michael Liebreich shows applications for hydrogen. Marine Shipping and Green steel appear appropriate uses.
References
- Is The Tide Turning On Hydrogen? Ep210: Andrew Forrest 2025 https://www.cleaningup.live/is-the-tide-turning-on-hydrogen-ep210-andrew-forrest/
- Minderoo Foundation to fund A$6 million worth of new research combatting lethal humidity 2023 https://www.minderoo.org/media/minderoo-foundation-to-fund-au6-million-worth-of-new-reseach-combatting-lethal-humidity/
- More than 1,300 Hajj pilgrims died this year when humidity and heat pushed past survivable limits. It’s just the start. 2024 https://theconversation.com/more-than-1-300-hajj-pilgrims-died-this-year-when-humidity-and-heat-pushed-past-survivable-limits-its-just-the-start-245271
- Fortescue to charter green ammonia-powered vessel to test shipping with no dirty bunker fuel Apr 2025 https://reneweconomy.com.au/fortescue-to-charter-green-ammonia-powered-vessel-to-test-shipping-with-no-dirty-bunker-fuel/
