The ENGIE solution for the Mogalakwena mine involved developing an integrated hydrogen solution (production, compression, storage and distribution) from local solar energy, and supplying the fuel for the first ever hydrogen-powered mining haul truck.
ENGIE's aim is to promote industrial-scale renewable hydrogen solutions to help its energy-intensive customers in their journey to carbon neutrality. And it was in the great mining country of South Africa that ENGIE's ground-breaking solution met Anglo American's environmental interests.
In July 2019, a co-development agreement was signed for Mogalakwena mine, the world's largest open-cast platinum mine in the world - our mining partner would focus on adapting the vehicle to the new technology while we would develop the hydrogen generation solutions. Since then, we have been conducting a test programme which, once validated, will be rolled out to other mines, with a view to decarbonising the sector's mineral extraction and transport mobility solutions.
The partnership between our two companies will result in the first ever transformation of a 210-tonne diesel truck with a loading capacity of 290 tonnes into a hydrogen-powered vehicle. These mining haul trucks generate high greenhouse gas emissions. Each one uses 3,000 litres of diesel a day, generating eight tonnes of CO2. For an average mine, this totals 120 ktonnes a year and there are over 1,000 mines worldwide.
For Anglo American, the project involves replacing a diesel-powered energy production system with an emission-free system based on a battery pack and hydrogen fuel cells.
For ENGIE, it involves developing an integrated hydrogen solution including production, compression, storage, and fuelling in record time.
Our challenge is to guarantee the efficient supply of "hydrogen fuel" for the truck, to meet the mine's high energy and productivity requirements, and comply with the safety standards in force.
This project, run in partnership with Anglo American, covers the technology gap, network development, operations and maintenance. It also enables a viable economic model to be validated. According to Luc Imschoot, Chief TD&C at ENGIE Hydrogen, "we will be able to offer this comprehensive solution to mining companies between 2025 and 2030."
"We are delighted to implement the first solution in the world to decarbonise heavy-duty mobility in the mining sector. This partnership is in line with ENGIE’s strategy to develop industrial-scale hydrogen-based solutions to help our energy-intensive customers in their journey to carbon neutrality."
Valérie Ruiz Domingo, Group Hydrogen Vice President
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