.
Menu
Why mining matters
Find out more
Where we operate
Find out more
Our impact
Find out more
Our difference
Find out more
A world-class portfolio
Download
Mega Nav Image
Sustainability Report 2017
Download
Mega Nav Image
Take a tour of a modern mine
Download
Mega Nav Image
Q3 2018 PRODUCTION REPORT
Download
Mega Nav Image
Graduate professionals and bursaries
Find out more
Careers mega nav image
Annual Report 2017
Download
How to become a supplier
Discover what we expect from our suppliers and how to apply here.
PLATINUM PERFORMANCE
Read more
Origins
Main Content

The Power & Potential of Hydrogen

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time.

The global response to climate change, specifically the decarbonisation of energy, transport, and broader industry, is driving a major transition towards a low-carbon future. At Anglo American, we’re committed to supporting this transition and to playing our part in addressing the root causes of climate change. Our FutureSmart MiningTM programme is designed to bring together technology and digitalisation to drive sustainability outcomes.

We believe that hydrogen - a clean, versatile energy carrier of almost infinite supply - has a significant and wide-ranging role to play in achieving a low-carbon future.

We are already targeting carbon neutrality across our operations by 2040, with eight of our operations reaching that goal by 2030. We are also rapidly increasing our sourcing of renewable energy. We’re using 100% renewables in Chile from 2021, in Brazil from 2022, and Peru in 2023.

In all, 56% of our global grid supply will be sourced from renewables by 2023.

In South Africa, Anglo American is working with EDF Renewables, a global leader in renewable energy, to develop a regional renewable energy ecosystem (RREE). This ecosystem will be designed to meet all our operational electricity requirements in South Africa through renewables by 2030, while supporting the resilience of the local electricity supply systems and the wider decarbonisation of energy in the country.

Hydrogen

Hydrogen to account for almost one-fifth of total final energy consumed by 2050

One of our chosen pathways for reaching a low-carbon future is the adoption of hydrogen as an energy source, over less sustainable and more polluting options.

Hydrogen is the earth’s most abundant element, and is a versatile, zero-emission energy carrier with a high energy density. It can also be stored in large quantities and for long periods and can be employed in sectors that are hard to decarbonise (so-called ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors), including long-haul heavy-duty transport, chemicals, steel, cement, aviation, and shipping. It can also be used as a store of energy generated from renewables.

The Hydrogen Council currently estimates that hydrogen could represent 18% of global energy demand by 2050. Platinum group metals (PGMs), essential in cleaning up the noxious gases from internal combustion engines (ICE) for some time to come, also play a critical role in the emerging hydrogen economy.

Introducing First Mode's nuGenTM Solution, Anglo American's Zero Emissions Haulage Solution

Truck

A solution so ambitious, it didn’t exist. So we made it from scratch.

nuGenTM represents what it means to think about mining differently. Our FutureSmart MiningTM programme is developing and implementing step-change innovations that are transforming the very nature of mining and how our stakeholders experience our business. We are working towards a world where our mines are integrated, automated, carbon neutral, and use far less water. A safer, smarter, more sustainable future.

To start big, we went light

Light on emissions.
Light on the environment.
And fuelled by the lightest element on earth – hydrogen gas.

This is the inspiration behind First Mode’s nuGenTM Zero Emission Haulage Solution (ZEHS) project, an end-to-end integrated green hydrogen production, fuelling, and haulage system for mine sites.

Truck-small

Meet the world’s lightest 510t truck

Our pilot for the nuGenTM Zero Emission Haulage Solution is a hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck. It’s an ambitious project that marks the first time a truck of this size and load capacity (a 220t truck with a load capacity of 290t = a total laden weight of 510t) has been converted to run on hydrogen that will be produced on-site in hybrid combination with a battery.

  • The nuGenTM truck is retrofitted from a diesel-powered vehicle. The truck uses a hybrid hydrogen fuel cell providing roughly half of the power and a battery pack the other half, to allow energy recovery from braking.
  • Hydrogen enters the fuel cell from the tank and mixes with oxygen to create water in a chemical reaction catalysed by platinum. This generates electricity that is used to power the motors that drive the wheels. The only emission from the vehicle is water vapour.
  • The 2-megawatt hybrid battery/hydrogen fuel cell powerplant, which replaces the diesel engine installed, has been designed by Anglo American and our partner First Mode in Seattle, USA.
  • The power management and battery systems in the truck have been developed to improve overall efficiency by recovering energy when the haul trucks travel downhill, through regenerative braking.
  • By harvesting the regenerative energy created when driving downhill, we reduce our need for external energy. This energy, stored in the battery, together with the hydrogen extends the truck's range and reduces the out of cycle time for the trucks, since hydrogen refuelling is significantly faster than recharging batteries.

As part of the integrated nuGen™ solution, we have also built a zero emission vehicles hydrogen production, storage, and refuelling complex at Mogalakwena that incorporates the largest electrolyser in Africa and a solar PV field to support the operation of the haul truck.

ENGIE is the hydrogen producer and supplier in this proof of concept project. Visit ENGIE’s website here: engie.com

Part of the integrated nuGenTM solution

We have also built a zero emission vehicles hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex at Mogalakwena that incorporates the largest electrolyser in Africa and a solar PV field to support the operation of the haul truck.

We plan to retrofit 40 diesel haul trucks at Mogalakwena to hydrogen truck vehicles as part of First Mode’s nuGenTM project. We then expect to roll this technology out across our global fleet of around 400 trucks.

The launch of First Mode’s nuGenTM truck provides a real-world case for the wider adoption and use of hydrogen across the heaviest duty forms of transport, for which hydrogen carries numerous advantages over battery technology. With our haul trucks representing up to 80% of diesel emissions at our sites, this technology will make a major contribution towards our operational carbon neutrality target.

The truck is a tangible and relatable example of what we can achieve by having a clear vision for what may be possible, and then partnering with others to deliver a breakthrough outcome. This is FutureSmart MiningTM.

How we’re supporting the transition to a Hydrogen Economy

Together with our partners, we aim to be part of creating the environmentally and socially sustainable jobs, sectors and economies needed to help address climate change.

Hydrogen Economy

What is the Just Energy Transition?

Our societies will have to transform to address climate change. This will involve actions and decisions by private companies, governments, communities and individuals. The concept of a Just Energy Transition, where those workers and communities affected socially and economically by the transition to a low-carbon world, requires significant change and adaptation. The degree to which people are able to adapt will depend, in part, on the levels of support they receive.

Anglo American is committed to a partnership approach to the Just Energy Transition: not only to explore what it means and how different stakeholders will be able to play their part, but also to identify the right programmes that will form part of the response to help ensure that nobody is left behind.



Hydrogen

Supporting South Africa’s Hydrogen Valley Initiative

The Hydrogen Valley Initiative in South Africa is one example of our commitment to a Just Energy Transition. As part of the feasibility study for the Hydrogen Valley - along with numerous partners, including the Department of Science and Innovation, Bambili Energy, SANEDI and Engie - we have identified nine hydrogen-related projects across the mobility, industrial and construction sectors that could be used as a springboard for the hydrogen economy.

The Hydrogen Valley will be leveraged to kickstart the hydrogen economy, leading to cost savings through shared infrastructure investments, improving the cost competitiveness of hydrogen production through economies of scale, enabling a rapid ramp-up of hydrogen production within a given territory, and leveraging an incubator for new pilot hydrogen projects.



The results of the feasibility study show that South Africa’s Hydrogen Valley could add between USD$4-9 billion to GDP (direct and indirect contributions) by 2050, while also creating between 14,000 - 30,000 direct and indirect jobs per year.

nuGenTM ZEHS by the numbers

510 tonnes
Fully laden weight of nuGenTM ZEHS hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck
900,000 litres
Amount of diesel consumed by one haul truck each year
80%
Reduction of our on-site diesel emissions through the implementation of nuGenTM
1.2 MWh
Size of the battery pack designed, built and tested for the nuGenTM ZEHS hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck.
800 kW
Power generated by the multiple fuel cell modules parallel on the nuGenTM ZEHS hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck. Working with our suppliers, we have designed and implemented a software solution to safely manage the power and energy between the fuel cells, batteries and vehicle drivetrain.
2030
The year we plan to have deployed the nuGenTM ZEHS project at seven of our open pit sites, converting all our diesel-powered ultra-class mine haul trucks at these sites to green hydrogen. In addition, we are exploring switching smaller heavy-duty vehicles and light-duty duty vehicles to hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
140 MW
Energy to be generated by our hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex at Mogalakwena that incorporates the largest electrolyser in Africa and a solar PV field to support the 24-hour operation of the nuGenTM.
99,97%
Pure Hydrogen generated by our 3,5MW Alkaline Electrolyser, which produces 700Nm3 an hour, treated and compressed to 30 bar.
800kg
Nominal onsite storage capacity for hydrogen compressed to 550bar and stored at 500 bar
3,5kg per minute
Maximum flow rate of hydrogen per minute, when Hydrogen is sub cooled to -20 degrees centigrade
510 tonnes
Fully laden weight of nuGenTM ZEHS hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck
900,000 litres
Amount of diesel consumed by one haul truck each year
80%
Reduction of our on-site diesel emissions through the implementation of nuGenTM
1.2 MWh
Size of the battery pack designed, built and tested for the nuGenTM ZEHS hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck.
800 kW
Power generated by the multiple fuel cell modules parallel on the nuGenTM ZEHS hydrogen-powered ultra-class mine haul truck. Working with our suppliers, we have designed and implemented a software solution to safely manage the power and energy between the fuel cells, batteries and vehicle drivetrain.
2030
The year we plan to have deployed the nuGenTM ZEHS project at seven of our open pit sites, converting all our diesel-powered ultra-class mine haul trucks at these sites to green hydrogen. In addition, we are exploring switching smaller heavy-duty vehicles and light-duty duty vehicles to hydrogen and fuel cell technology.
140 MW
Energy to be generated by our hydrogen production, storage and refuelling complex at Mogalakwena that incorporates the largest electrolyser in Africa and a solar PV field to support the 24-hour operation of the nuGenTM.
99,97%
Pure Hydrogen generated by our 3,5MW Alkaline Electrolyser, which produces 700Nm3 an hour, treated and compressed to 30 bar.
800kg
Nominal onsite storage capacity for hydrogen compressed to 550bar and stored at 500 bar
3,5kg per minute
Maximum flow rate of hydrogen per minute, when Hydrogen is sub cooled to -20 degrees centigrade
Previous Next
Previous Next