Hydrogen

The transition to hydrogen

At Anglo American, we believe that hydrogen has a significant and wide-ranging role to play in achieving the low-carbon future needed to combat climate change.

In line with our Sustainable Mining Plan, we are committed to maintaining a healthy environment: we are targeting a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and aim to be carbon neutral across our operations by 2040. Hydrogen is a clean, green, versatile energy carrier of almost infinite supply and it has a vital role to play in delivering on that plan and decarbonising the world.

Hydrogen’s potential

Hydrogen is expected to make up nearly one fifth of all global energy by 2050 according to The Hydrogen Council. It represents a fast-growing market with enormous potential to decarbonise difficult-to-transition industries such as long-haul heavy-duty transport, chemicals, steel, cement, aviation, and shipping.

As demand for a cleaner world grows, it’s important to unlock hydrogen’s role in the decarbonisation of energy. At Anglo American we are working to develop that hydrogen economy, starting with our operations in South Africa. It is firmly at the heart of our mining operations as well as the future of the industry.

As part of our FutureSmart Mining™ programme, Anglo American is pioneering several global hydrogen initiatives including hydrogen-powered mining trucks in South Africa and freight trains in Australia. We also plan to generate hydrogen from electrolysis on many of our mine sites using renewable energy sources.

Read more about Hydrogen’s potential page

The role of PGMs in hydrogen

Platinum group metals (PGMs) are key elements in two growing technologies in the zero-emissions hydrogen economy – electrolysers and fuel cells.

In a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell, platinum metal is the most efficient catalyst. When pressurised hydrogen enters the fuel cell, the platinum-containing catalyst separates it into protons and electrons, generating electricity and only emitting water in the process.

Such hydrogen fuel cells have enormous potential as a clean alternative to power cars, buses, trucks and trains – helping to decarbonise the economy.

Building South Africa’s hydrogen valley

South Africa is home to world-leading solar and wind resources as well as major deposits of platinum group metals (PGM) – widely used in hydrogen fuel cells. That puts the country in prime position to develop a strong hydrogen economy.

As a business operating in South Africa for more than 100 years, we are working with its Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) to explore its potential for a hydrogen valley. A cluster of several industrial and research initiatives and pilot projects it will span 835km from our Mogalakwena mine in Limpopo, to Durban, via Johannesburg. These hubs will play a fundamental role in integrating hydrogen into the country’s economy – bringing an estimated $4 billion in GDP to South Africa by 2050 as well as 14,000 jobs a year.

Hydrogen powered vehicles

Our Woodsmith polyhalite mine in the UK is trialing hydrogen fuel cell cars and a refuelling station to use in its operations. The cars form part of a local Hydrogen Hub pilot scheme designed to help speed up the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles in the UK.

Fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) are key to a low-carbon future, and will play an important role in our operations as we work towards our carbon reduction goals.

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The Hydrogen Council

Anglo American are a founding member of The Hydrogen Council - the global voice of clean hydrogen action.

A CEO-led organisation, it uses its global reach to promote collaboration between governments, industry and investors to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen solutions around the world.

The Council’s goal is to increase visibility and recognition of the role of hydrogen as a critical tool for the decarbonization of energy. In our role on the council, Anglo American collaborates with key stakeholders to foster the right conditions and infrastructures for industrial hydrogen-powered solutions.