Calix Limited · Australian research and industry partners

Green-Iron Technology Commercialisation

Connecting Australian mineral resources with processing technology, research capability and public investment to create a credible path towards lower-emissions iron.

When: 2019–2024
Who: Calix, government, CRC and industry partners
Project status: Funded development
Michael's role: Commercialisation and partnership leadership

The purpose

Why the work mattered

Decarbonising iron production requires changes across energy, reaction engineering, feed preparation and investment. The work aimed to position Australian technology and resources within that transition rather than treating green iron as a single equipment project.

What changed

Results built to last

$50m: ARENA and MMI support secured across lithium and green-iron programs
HILT CRC: Research collaboration supporting heavy-industry decarbonisation
Iron: Major Australian export value chain addressed
Stage gated: Development managed through visible decision points

The challenge

Define the real constraint

Green iron sits at the intersection of uncertain technology, large capital requirements and rapidly changing markets. Progress depended on choosing development steps that could reduce risk without losing sight of industrial scale.

The work

Turn intent into delivery

Michael connected technical teams with funding bodies, research organisations and prospective industry partners. Stage-gate discipline helped make evidence, risk and the next investment decision visible.

From idea to impact

Make the change endure

The program secured substantial public support across Calix’s critical-minerals portfolio and established research pathways for applying the technology to lower-emissions iron processing.

Perspective

Why this project matters

Iron and steel underpin modern life, and the emissions that come with them are a shared inheritance rather than any one company's problem. Australia has an obligation, and an opportunity, to help solve it close to the ore body instead of exporting the problem with the rock. Work like this is done on behalf of the next generation of workers and communities who will depend on these industries still being here, and still being welcome.