Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) will expand its U.S. presence and strengthen its position as a leading global developer of green energy technologies by establishing a technology center in Colorado.
With the potential to create more than 150 local jobs, the center will bring together experts from leading Colorado universities and institutions, including the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).
FFI will develop green hydrogen and green energy innovations and technologies, with a particular focus on decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries that can be rapidly commercialized.
More importantly, the Technology Center will facilitate the entry of the latest technologies into the manufacturing centers currently under consideration by the FFI due to the successful passage of US legislation, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
Dr Andrew Forrest AO, Founder and Executive Chairman of Fortescue said: “Fortescue is building a global technology network to encourage scientists and engineers from around the world to advance research and development.
“The FFI will rapidly commercialize the technology we build here to achieve real-world outcomes. This is where the IRA will give us the momentum we need to bring this cutting-edge research to life.
“The U.S. has the deepest innovation ecosystem in the world and is now the best location for post-IRA green hydrogen investments,” Dr Forrest said.
“The passage of this bill is a historic moment for America – it will help create jobs for Americans and reduce emissions, as our Technology Center has proven,” Dr. Forrest said.
Colorado was selected from multiple potential locations for its world-leading research and development (R&D) institutions, vibrant innovation ecosystem and quality of life, making it an attractive destination for America’s best minds.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis said, “This exciting announcement brings high-paying jobs to Colorado, builds on our work to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2040, and reflects Colorado’s The role of the state as a global innovation hub”.
“Colorado provides a forward-looking regulatory and policy environment, and FFI looks forward to leveraging some of the best and brightest minds in the United States,” said FFI CEO Mark Hutchinson.
“There is great global demand for the green energy and green hydrogen that FFI will produce and the new technologies it is developing,” Mr Hutchinson said.
“Fortescue’s technology network will sow and harvest the best talent and expand globally, with teams already established in Australia, the UK and Europe,” Mr Hutchinson said.
The state of Colorado awarded awards totaling $1.996 million to support the center’s establishment and job creation in the green energy industry.
“The transition to a clean, decarbonized energy system is a global challenge that requires global solutions,” said NREL Director Martin Keller.
“For more than 45 years, NREL has transformed the way the nation and the world use energy with our unique capabilities, including validating technologies and solving large-scale integration challenges. The collaboration with FFI and our partners in Colorado will leverage these unique capabilities, And combine our resources and expertise to advance technologies that are critical to the transformation of the energy future,” said Mr Keller.
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