Name of the Project
Infinity Train.
Location
Australia and UK.
Project Owner/s
Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) acquired Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE) in March 2022. The acquisition will result in the establishment of a significant new global battery growth business opportunity for Fortescue.
The project will be managed by FMG’s green energy, technology and development company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).
Project Description
Fortescue’s rail operations consumed 82-million litres of diesel in the 2021 financial year, accounting for 11% of Fortescue’s Scope 1 emissions.
The company’s current rail operations include 54 operating locomotives that haul 16 train sets, together with other on-track mobile equipment. Every train set is about 2.8 km long and can haul 34 404 t of iron-ore in 244 ore cars.
To support the delivery of Fortescue’s industry-leading target to achieve net-zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2030, FFI and WAE plan to develop a regenerating battery electric iron-ore train project – the Infinity Train.
The Infinity Train will use the gravitational energy generated on the downhill loaded sections of Fortescue’s rail network to recharge its battery electric systems, without any additional charging requirements for the return trip to reload.
The self-sustaining system will increase operational efficiency, lower maintenance costs, and eliminate diesel and the associated carbon dioxide emissions from Fortescue’s iron-ore trains.
The regenerative capability will remove the requirement for investment in recharging infrastructure and additional renewable-energy generation capacity.
Potential Job Creation
Not stated.
Capital Expenditure
Fortescue’s studies and development costs for the Infinity Train are estimated at $50-million over the next two years.
Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.
Latest Developments
None stated.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.
Contact Details for Project Information
FMG, tel +61 8 6218 8888 or email fmgl@fmgl.com.au.