MYTILINEOS Energy & Metals is increasingly becoming an integrated international energy company offering solutions for the entire spectrum of industry activities. At the same time, it remains true to its commitment to sustainable development and the achievement of the goal of reducing carbon emissions, not only in its operations, but also in relation to the integrated solutions it provides to its customers.

In this context, the company has proceeded to acquire a 15% stake in Rosedale CLARA Energy’s green hydrogen project in Australia. In particular, the MYTILINEOS investment will support the first phase of a project to build a hydrogen plant that will be electrified solely by photovoltaic production and will power heavy vehicles that cross one of the country’s largest highways, the Sydney-Melbourne Hume Highway. The plant’s location is in the best position to be a major supplier of fuel for heavy vehicles, as all vehicles between Sydney and Melbourne use this route.

It is worth noting that in a world where the transport sector is constantly evolving and electrification is in full swing, heavy vehicles seem to be left behind. In particular, as of 2020, transport is the number one carbon emitter, with the transport sector producing approximately 7.3 billion metric tons of CO2 emissions annually. Heavy vehicles account for a significant portion of these global transport emissions.

Meanwhile, the European Commission has proposed stricter limits on CO2 emissions from heavy trucks, with new trucks cutting emissions by 90% by 2040. The aim is to bring the transport sector in line with the European Union’s goal of achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, as well as reducing demand for imported fossil fuels. However, according to a study published by Bloomberg NEF, to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, mid- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles would need to account for about 95% of sales by 2040, according to a study published by Bloomberg NEF. make up only about 35%. The reasons for this delay are due to various factors, since there are many difficulties, such as a limited number of charging stations, autonomy, cost, as well as the very lack of encouragement of the transition to a green era.

Thus, the use of hydrogen is an important solution with new technologies in the automotive industry that could potentially bring cleaner uses closer, especially for the main pollutant in transport, which is heavy vehicles and trucks. Hydrogen is a technology that offers the advantage of fast refueling compared to gasoline or oil, combined with the ability to cover long distances with a single fill. At the same time, it is safer than conventional fuel, since it is 14 times lighter than air, a pinpoint leak in the tank forms a narrow, vertical flame that does not create heat and does not spread. Hydrogen is one of the simplest chemical elements, which is part of many chemical compounds, especially water. Its quantity on our planet is practically unlimited, unlike liquid fuel or some necessary raw material for the manufacture of batteries. For all these reasons, it seems that hydrogen will be the fuel of the future.

Commenting on this new activity of MYTILINEOS, as well as the collaboration with CLARA Energy, Ioannis Kalafatas, CEO of the company’s energy division, emphasized that this is another investment that contributes to zero activity.

“MYTILINEOS always strives to be a pioneer in the solutions it offers to its customers. In this context, we consider electrification holistically and invest in the transport of heavy vehicles with zero emissions. In addition, as an integrated energy company, we offer solutions across the entire spectrum of energy activities, combining innovation and technology. We are now also offering green hydrogen services at major sites along highways to ensure a seamless decarbonization of international shipping.

The fact that MYTILINEOS is located in many countries gives access to a very large pool of partners who are constantly at the forefront. Products, services, applications that focus on new technologies and provide new solutions for large requests are not just a new trend for us, but a business in which we invest in order to give our partners the best result. We hope that this project in Australia will not be the only one and we will have more news soon.”

CLARA Energy’s final plan for the project is to develop an 800 MW solar farm alongside a 560 MW hydrogen power plant near Gundagaya that will be capable of producing enough hydrogen to power the 800 heavy vehicles that cross the Hume Highway daily. In Phase 1, solar power will reach 250 MW and the hydrogen plant will produce enough to be used by 200 heavy vehicles.

This solution helps reduce emissions even in a sector that has a long way to go to go green. In particular, the new hydrogen plant appears to be one of the best solutions, as it solves the problem of reducing electric charging stations for heavy vehicles, while offering the appropriate energy and fuel needed to ensure vehicles do not require expensive batteries to run. .

It is worth noting that MYTILINEOS continues to successfully respond to the challenges of the energy crisis and the transition to “green” energy. With a diversified portfolio, innovative capabilities and commitment to the future, the company is once again at the forefront of energy development.