Fortescue has begun construction of its 690-MW Turner River solar farm in the Pilbara region of Western Australia – the final solar installation needed to deliver its Real Zero decarbonisation plan – along with a 650-MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) at its flagship Cloudbreak iron ore mine.
These projects form part of Fortescue’s Pilbara Green Grid, which is being developed to power its Pilbara operations with renewable energy.
“While others are still debating whether decarbonisation is possible, Fortescue is getting on with building what’s needed to do it,” said Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO Dino Otranto.
“The technology is here. The economics are improving every year. And anyone watching global fuel markets can see exactly why electrification and renewable power matter more than ever.”
“Our solar farms, transmission lines, wind generation, and batteries are being built right now across the Pilbara. We are moving first because the economics, the technology, and the national interest are all pointing in the same direction,” he added.
Once complete and combined with Fortescue’s Solomon Airport solar farm (440 MW), Cloudbreak solar farm (190 MW), and North Star Junction solar farm (100 MW), Fortescue will have delivered all the solar generation required to achieve Real Zero across its iron ore operations. Together, these projects will provide more than 1.4 GW of renewable energy capacity.
Construction of Turner River is expected to be completed in 2028. Construction of the Cloudbreak BESS is expected to be completed in FY27, delivering 74 MW of power for approximately eight hours.
Source: Fortescue