(Perth / Wilhelmshaven) – Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), part of the Australian mining company Fortescue Metals Group Ltd., is investing in the Belgian infrastructure company Tree Energy Solutions BV (TES). The Belgians want to develop an import facility for green hydrogen in Wilhelmshaven. FFI estimates the investment costs at 130 million euros.
The agreement includes a €30 million stake in TES from FFI subsidiary Netherlands Fortescue Future Industries Holdings BV. 
Another 100 million euros will flow into the construction of the TES terminal in Wilhelmshaven. FFI is thereby acquiring a 30 percent share in Deutsche Grüngas und Energiebedarf GmbH (a subsidiary of TES), the project company that will build the “TES Green Energy Hub” in Wilhelmshaven. According to the company, six berths and ten tanks with a storage capacity of two million cubic meters are planned for the terminal there.
The first phase of the project involves the delivery of 300.000 tons of green hydrogen to Germany, although it is still unclear exactly from which location the gas will be delivered. The final decision should be made in 2023 with the aim of unloading hydrogen from FFI in Wilhelmshaven from 2026.
Investors have already given 65 million euros
With the investment, FFI joins the group of international financial institutions and multinational energy companies Eon, HSBC, Unicredit and Zodiac Maritime, which committed €65 million to TES in a financing round in July.
In addition to the “Green Energy Hub” in Wilhelmshaven, TES says it is developing similar projects in other European ports as well as in the Middle East, Australia and the USA. The company wants to produce synthetic methane using green hydrogen and CO2. TES is currently ramping up production of green hydrogen to 5,5 million tons.
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TES wants to import hydrogen via six terminals in Wilhelmshaven. © TES
