The world runs on iron. It needs a green version.
The global steel industry produces roughly 3.7 billion tonnes of CO2 every year. Ironmaking accounts for the majority of that – more than any other industrial process.
The scale demands more than incremental change. Green iron can cut emissions, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and produce higher purity materials suited to the next generation of steelmaking.
As global markets shift toward low-carbon supply chains, green metals will become a competitive advantage – not just a climate solution.
What is green iron?
Traditional ironmaking relies on coal in blast furnaces. Carbon from coal bonds with oxygen in the ore – releasing large volumes of CO2.
To decarbonise ironmaking, that carbon must be replaced.
Green iron uses renewable energy instead of coal. Renewable electricity enables low-emissions pathways that remove oxygen from iron ore without fossil fuels. The result is high-purity iron metal with significantly lower emissions.
Same chemistry, but a radically different outcome.
From ore to green metal at Christmas Creek
From ore to green metal at Christmas Creek
Hydrogen Reduction
Iron ore is converted into sponge iron using hydrogen in a reduction furnace.
Electric Smelting
Sponge iron is refined in an electric smelting furnace powered by renewable energy.
High-purity output
The result is green iron metal suitable for use in steel plants globally.
Innovation is our engine
Heavy industry doesn’t decarbonise with good intentions. It decarbonises with engineering.
Hydrogen electrolysers. Electric smelting technology. Integrated renewable systems. Advanced materials science.
Through Fortescue Zero and our global R&D capability, we are developing solutions that are decarbonising heavy industry.
We’re developing the capability now so we’re ready to scale as markets mature.
Our Green Metal Project
Unlocking a green steel industry.
At Christmas Creek, our Green Metal Project is advancing the technologies and processes needed to produce green iron metal at a commercial scale in the Pilbara.
This is where ambition becomes infrastructure.
Let's build the future of green metals
We can build the technology. Now the world must build the frameworks.
Green metals represent one of the biggest industrial transitions of our time.
The technology is advancing and the long-term opportunity is clear, but green metals won’t scale on engineering alone. Global alignment is essential.
To accelerate green metal adoption, we need:
Beyond Fossil Fuels
Green metals are one way we’re proving heavy industry can move beyond fossil fuels - and part of a broader push to make Real Zero the global standard.