Ballard Power Systems is a member of the Hydra Consortium – together with Mining3, a leading research organization in the global mining industry and ENGIE, a global player in low-carbon energy and services. The Hydra Consortium will enable heavy-duty mining mobile equipment to run on renewable hydrogen, displacing diesel and decarbonizing the mining sector. Ballard will provide zero-emission fuel cell systems that run on hydrogen to power mining equipment.
The Hydra Consortium is now actively working to validate the business case for a hydrogen fuel cell-based powertrain in heavy-duty mobility within the mining sector. Operations undermining conditions will be conducted, including the design, manufacturing and testing of a 200-kilowatt fuel cell plus battery powertrain prototype to achieve the target. To generate electricity and power a mining vehicle fuel cells will use renewable hydrogen.
The project will support government entities by establishing safety protocols for hydrogen used at scale within the mining industry.
Professor Paul Lever, CEO, Mining3, said: “We are looking forward to working with project participants to develop this important transformative solution for the mining industry, as well as opening doors to new applications and processes necessary for a carbon-neutral future.”
Michele Azalbert, CEO, ENGIE’s Hydrogen Business Unit, said: “We are pleased to be part of this powerful collaboration that brings vast expertise of its members to decarbonize the mining industry. Renewable hydrogen can provide the flexibility that the mining sector needs. Beyond the obvious advantage of being emissions-free, hydrogen solutions offer an economically viable alternative to fossil fuels, while ensuring the operational performance of mining operations.”
Randy MacEwen, President and CEO, Ballard Power Systems, added: “We are excited to be partnering with the Hydra Consortium on this ground-breaking pilot project targeting zero-emission fuel cell mining vehicles. The mining industry is responsible for significant emissions, with diesel trucks being a key contributor. To limit global warming to 2-degrees the mining industry must reduce direct emissions by 40%-70% by 2050. We believe hydrogen-powered fuel cell engines offer the only viable pathway to decarbonize heavy off-highway vehicles in mining, construction and agriculture, with an addressable market of 4.5 million vehicles representing an aggregate of 500 gigawatts of power. Our vision for the mining industry includes large, centralized fleets of ultra-heavy mining vehicles with fuel cell engines powered by hydrogen produced by onsite solar energy at mining sites.”
