Fortescue hailed progress with its sustainability objectives in its FY25 report, just released. CEOs Dino Otranto and Gus Pichot: “This year, we’ve continued to evolve, act boldly and deliver with purpose as we work to reshape the future of resources and energy. We have made strong progress towards our Real Zero Target.”
At Iron Bridge, they say the newly commissioned 100 MW solar farm at North Star Junction is now meeting around one quarter of the site’s electricity needs. Through Pilbara Energy Connect, Fortescue has also built 460 km of high voltage transmission lines and associated substations, “creating the backbone of a renewable energy network to power our operations and mobile fleet.”
They add: “We’re proving that heavy industry can begin to decarbonise now. From electric drills and excavators already in use to major renewables coming online, we’re deploying the technologies and infrastructure needed to transition hard-to-abate sectors.”
More detail on renewable energy and related infrastructure is given in the main climate change part of the report. “We are making significant investments in renewable power, battery storage and high voltage transmission to replace stationary diesel, gas-fired power generation at our sites, as well as the diesel consumed in our mobile equipment. We aim to have all our mines and renewable generation assets interconnected into a single power grid.”
As stated, in FY25, Fortescue completed the commissioning of a 100 MW solar farm at North Star Junction, located near Iron Bridge on its mainline railway. The solar farm generated 180 GWh, meeting 25% of Iron Bridge’s current electricity needs, and helped avoid additional emissions from the Solomon gas power station. Construction also commenced at the 190 MW Cloudbreak solar farm, with the project expected to be fully operational in early FY27.
In FY25, Fortescue also progressed construction on the high voltage transmission line between its Solomon and Eliwana mine sites, to complement the existing Pilbara Energy Connect (PEC) transmission infrastructure that connects Solomon and Iron Bridge.
Fortescue adds: “We are committed to our electricity demand being met by renewable sources. The build-out of our renewable energy assets will be matched to the deployment of electric heavy mining equipment to ensure a balance between energy supply and demand during this transition period.”
On the topic of the low emissions mobile fleets themselves: ” In FY25, the team continued to design solution pathways consisting of both ‘off-the-shelf’ products and new technologies via collaborations and partnerships with world-leading original equipment manufacturers.”
Its highlighted progress status includes investment approved by Fortescue’s Board and Original Equipment Manufacturer contracts in place for all required heavy mobile equipment; the first modern platform drill rig in Australia at a Fortescue site; site testing of prototype battery electric haul truck, Roadrunner, and 3 MW fast charger; trials to validate battery-electric light vehicles, support mining equipment and charging; approved purchase of 6 MW fast chargers; and seven electric excavators
commissioned onsite.
To date, the Board has approved significant capital investment to decarbonise Fortescue’s heavy mobile fleet, including battery electric haul trucks, graders, tracked dozers, electric excavators and associated site infrastructure, such as charging facilities and electric cables.
The mining group concludes: “Throughout the remainder of the decade, Fortescue’s power system will undergo a transformative shift from a conventional, thermal generator supplied grid to one targeting high inverter-based resource penetration and very significant energy storage capacity. Fortescue’s load profile is also changing with the electrification of our mining fleet, most notably the introduction of battery electric haul trucks and their high voltage charging stations. The scale and pace of this transition requires world-leading solutions for ensuring both continuous grid stability and optimal energy management.”
