Fortescue is deploying the first large-scale battery system to decarbonize operations in the Pilbara

Australian iron ore mining company Fortescue Metals Group has announced that it has delivered its first large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) to the North Star Junction solar power plant, marking a significant milestone in its drive to decarbonize operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The installation is part of a large-scale strategy to replace fossil fuel-based generation with renewable energy supported by extensive battery storage.

The newly installed BESS system is the first component of Fortescue's planned 4-5 GWh utility-scale energy storage facilities, which the company says will be necessary to transition its power grid from diesel and gas.

Support for the integration of renewable energy sources

Built using the blade battery technology of the Chinese company BYD Energy Storage, it is designed to capture excess solar energy generated during the day and transmit it at night through Fortescue's Pilbara Energy Connect (PEC) network.

The installation consists of 48 energy storage containers providing a total storage capacity of 250 MWh with the ability to supply 50 MW of power for up to five hours.

The second installation in the Fortescue Storage Deployment will be a 120 MWh BESS installation at the Elivan Iron Ore mine, scheduled for early 2026. Meanwhile, the construction of the 190 MW Cloudbreak solar power plant is almost complete.