Photo: Fortescue
On May 2nd, Fortescue inaugurated its $550 million green hydrogen production venture in the U.S., renaming its Buckeye, Arizona facility to Arizona Hydrogen. Arizona Hydrogen is Fortescue’s first planned green energy investment in North America and will mark the company’s first U.S. green hydrogen hub. It will house an 80-megawatt electrolyzer and liquefaction facility with an annual capacity exceeding 11,000 tons of liquid hydrogen. Based on economic data from NDP Analytics, during the two-year construction phase, Arizona Hydrogen has the potential to generate up to 2,244 jobs, including direct, indirect, and induced positions, with estimated earnings of $124.2 million in wages. Additionally, the facility could contribute approximately $187.8 million to Arizona’s GDP and generate $31.7 million in income and sales taxes for state and local governments. Fortescue Executive Chair and Founder Dr. Andrew Forrest AO, accompanied by state, regional, and tribal leaders, participated in the facility’s soil turn ceremony, slated to produce 11,000 tons of green hydrogen annually, aiding the region’s transportation decarbonization efforts.
In recent months, Fortescue has bolstered its foothold in the green energy sector. Late last year, it approved investments totaling $750 million over the next three years. These investments include the Arizona hub and two additional projects: the Gladstone 50-megawatt green hydrogen project in Queensland, Australia, and the Christmas Creek green iron trial commercial plant in Western Australia. Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO Sandra Watson expressed Fortescue’s work marks a significant milestone for Arizona’s clean energy economy. These projects will enhance the state’s position as a national sustainability leader at the forefront
