Nel Hydrogen Electrolyzer AS, a subsidiary of Nel ASA, has received a purchase order, following a previously announced contract, for a 3.5 MW electrolyzer from ENGIE. The electrolyser is an element of ENGIE’s hydrogen solution to produce renewable hydrogen for the world’s largest fuel cell electric mining haul truck for Anglo American, a global mining company, and is scheduled to be installed during 2020. (Earlier post.)

ENGIE is providing the renewable hydrogen solution for Anglo American, which is seeking to reduce the emissions associated with mining going forward, putting the world’s largest fuel cell electric mining haul truck into operation during 2020.

The ENGIE-Anglo American project involves retrofitting a mining haul truck operating at Anglo American’s Mogalakwena platinum group mine in South Africa to become a 100% zero-emission fuel cell electric truck. Electricity for hydrogen production will partly come from local solar power and the grid, and the electrolyzer capacity surpasses the daily demand of the truck, enabling storage for fueling during nighttime or moments when solar radiation is poor, maximizing the renewable share of the hydrogen.

If successful, the long-term target is to convert the entire fleet of haul trucks at the mine to hydrogen, as well as at Anglo American’s other mining operations around the world.