Australian rail freight operator Aurizon Holdings Ltd will team up with global mining firm Anglo American Plc to explore potential development of hydrogen-powered trains for bulk freight using the miner’s hydrogen fuel cell technology.
Aurizon and Anglo American on Monday said they entered agreement to conduct feasibility study to assess use of the London-listed miner’s hydrogen fuel cell and battery hybrid power units in bulk freight rail operations to replace diesel engines.
If the study is successful, the parties would deploy the technology on Aurizon’s Moura rail corridor which connects Anglo American’s Dawson metallurgical coal mine and the Gladstone Port, as well as Mount Isa rail corridor, they said.
“Our agreement with Aurizon marks the first time our hydrogen power technology could be tested beyond our existing mine haul truck programme,” said Tony O’Neill, Anglo American’s technical director.
“Displacing our use of diesel is critical to eliminating emissions at our sites and along our value chain.”
Anglo American, a diversified miner which produces metallurgical coal, iron ore, thermal coal, coking coal, and also has a copper to platinum, nickel and diamond portfolio, is aiming for carbon neutral mines by 2040. Aurizon also aims to reach net zero operational emissions by 2050.
Also Read:
The company is trying to make hydrogen a key growth driver by building liquefied hydrogen carriers, hydrogen power stations and other facilities to create a global supply chain of the fuel that may help decarbonise industries and aid the global energy transition.
Large companies are increasingly asking for help to cut their emissions when moving goods globally, DSV said.