Port bosses have signed a deal with an Australian green hydrogen storage company as they strive to make Freeport East a low carbon hub.
Freeport East announced it would be working with Australian-based, green hydrogen storage firm Rux Energy after agreeing to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
Freeport East chief executive Steve Beel and Dr Jehan Kanga, founder and chief executive of Rux Energy signed the paperwork during a visit to the Innovation Labs at the University of Suffolk.
The deal underlines both parties’ commitment to achieving the safe storage, distribution and supply of low carbon hydrogen within the UK and exporting green hydrogen across the world.
Rux Energy - which registered its UK subsidiary, Rux Energy UK, in Harwich last year - has created carbon-composite tanks and materials which reduce the costs of hydrogen storage as well as improving safety.
Freeport East is supporting Rux to develop its technology for real-world products, such as vessel and vehicle fuel tanks or energy network storage.
The move forms part of Freeport East's plan to become the UK’s centre for green hydrogen and accelerating decarbonisation methods.
Rux met with prospective supply chain partners in and around Harwich - where Rux Energy and Freeport East plan to work together on advancing a clean energy innovation cluster - and held talks with the University of Suffolk on green energy developments.
Mr Beel said the latest agreement underscores Freeport East's commitment to becoming the greenest freeport in the country.
"Rux Energy chose to establish its first European base in the East of England due to our support and we will continue to work closely with the team in order to meet our mutual goals," he said.
“We are proud to be a driving force collaborating with partners, sharing knowledge and attracting outside investors. Freeport East provides a compelling reason to invest, work, and live in East Anglia.”
Dr Kanga said the partnership ushers in a paradigm shift toward a hydrogen future.
"Rux's storage technology and supply chain efficiencies deliver fuel costs competitive with natural gas, accelerating the switch away from fossil fuels for heavy vehicles, rail, aviation, marine vessels and industrial end-users, delivering sustainable jobs growth across both the UK and Australia, while enabling our hardest-to-abate sectors to decarbonise years earlier than previously anticipated," he said.
“Rux has spent the last year working closely on planning for industrial trials which commence this year for our novel hydrogen storage systems which utilize our patented advanced nanoporous materials, and pre-feasibility for scale manufacturing here in the Freeport.
“Rux will drive clustered growth in R&D and advanced manufacturing with the local supply chain partners we've met through the Freeport East, connecting Australian deep tech innovations and manufacturing supply chains with UK manufacturing clusters, aligned to the Australia–UK Clean Technology Partnership.”
Paul Webster, the New South Wales Trade and Investment Commissioner for the UK and Europe said: “We’re delighted to support the global growth of a New South Wales-based business, Rux Energy into Freeport East."
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