Fortescue will invest $952 million to develop an off-grid renewable energy system and large-scale battery storage system in the Pilbara to meet growing demand from industry, including data centres.
Fortescue will rapidly develop the 200MW Pilbara Green Energy Project, delivering additional renewable energy generation beyond what is required for its Real Zero by 2030 strategy.
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The company will deliver a fully integrated, off-grid renewable energy system and large-scale battery storage and firming capability. The project is anticipated to be completed by 2028, with a pathway to multi-gigawatt expansion beyond 2030.
Fortescue’s previously announced Green Grid is the backbone of its Real Zero Target and, by 2028, will comprise 1.2GW of solar, 600MW of wind, 4-5GWh battery storage and 620km of transmission lines. It is an independently operated, replicable system designed to deliver reliable, firmed power at scale.
The same capital discipline and project execution capability from Fortescue’s decarbonisation efforts will be applied to the new Pilbara Green Energy Project.
Fortescue executive chair Dr Andrew Forrest AO said, “Fortescue is already demonstrating in the Pilbara that heavy industry can operate on a fully integrated renewable grid—eliminating fossil fuels while improving cost, reliability and control.
“We are now extending this model to new customers, particularly data centres, helping meet one of the fastest growing sources of demand in the world.
“This is about replicating our Decarbonisation Green Grid, delivering new green electrons at a scale and speed to market not able to be replicated by fossil fuel.
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“It enables a pathway for new industries to operate fossil fuel free, cheaper and faster than traditional alternatives.”
