UK’s Freeport East and Australia’s Rux Energy sign hydrogen pact

Freeport East, one of twelve Freeports established in the UK, and Australian green hydrogen storage company Rux Energy have signed a collaboration agreement to achieve the safe storage, distribution, and supply of low-carbon hydrogen within the UK and exporting green hydrogen across the world.

The agreement was signed on February 5, as part of a UK visit by Rux Energy that involved meeting with a number of local stakeholders through Freeport East. These included 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 discussions with the University of Suffolk on green energy developments.

Facilitated by Freeport East, Rux registered its UK subsidiary, Rux Energy UK, in Harwich, a first outside Australia, in April 2023.

Steve Beel, CEO of Freeport East, said: “This latest agreement underscores our 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.  

“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.”

This agreement also marks a key milestone for Rux Energy and its future expansion in UK and European markets.

Jehan Kanga, Founder and CEO of Rux Energy, said: “This partnership ushers in a paradigm shift toward a hydrogen future where 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.

“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.”

Located within the Port of Felixstowe, Freeport East aims to become the UK’s hub for transport and maritime decarbonization and reducing emissions both on land and sea.