(Phoenix / USA) – The Australian Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd. (FFI) of the mining magnate Andrew Forrest is acquiring the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub (PHH) from the US car manufacturer Nikola Corporation. FFI wants to build an electrolysis facility for hydrogen production at the site in the town of Buckeye, Arizona. The proceeds will power Nikola's Class 8 fuel cell trucks (from 15 tons). FFI will provide the capital and resources for this, and in return Nikola will contractually commit to purchasing hydrogen.
Commissioning by the middle of the decade
The PHH is a market-ready green hydrogen project and will be built in several phases. It is currently going through the final stages of the approval process. Commissioning is planned for the middle of this decade. The hydrogen base near Sustainable Valley is intended to meet the needs of truck customers in the southwestern United States. In February, Nikola had the production volume of first phase estimated at 30 tons per day; later it will be 150 tons.
The company also wants to establish its newly introduced gas station brand “Hyla” in order to combine both the vehicles and the infrastructure under one roof. “This acquisition by FFI will significantly strengthen one of the country’s first and most important hydrogen hubs,” said Michael Lohscheller, President and CEO of Nikola Corporation. It is an important step towards creating a local infrastructure for the use of hydrogen for zero-emission vehicles.
In January 2023, Nikola and FFI signed a memorandum of understanding to study and evaluate the joint development of large-scale green hydrogen production facilities in the United States.
Photos
Rendering of the Phoenix Hydrogen Hub in Buckeye, Arizona. © Nikola Corporation
