Fortescue, one of Australia’s leading mining companies, has announced plans to build a 2.1 gigawatt (GW) wind farm and battery energy storage system (BESS) in the Pilbara region, aiming to fully replace fossil fuels at its iron ore operations. If constructed today, the project would be one of the largest wind farms in Australia.

The proposal is a cornerstone of Fortescue’s broader decarbonization strategy, which targets “real zero” emissions across its mining operations—eliminating, rather than offsetting, the use of fossil fuels.

The proposed wind farm forms part of the East Pilbara Generation Hub (EPGH), a new renewable energy initiative designed to support Fortescue’s mining infrastructure. The EPGH is intended to provide consistent, large-scale renewable power for mining activities currently reliant on diesel and natural gas.

Fortescue has already made significant investments in renewable energy, including two operating solar farms—60 MW at Chichester and 100 MW at North Star—as well as a 190 MW solar project underway at Cloudbreak. A further 660 MW solar farm is also planned at Turner River, located south of Port Hedland.

In parallel with its renewable energy developments, Fortescue has committed AUD 4 billion toward the deployment of electric mining equipment, including haul trucks, bulldozers, and excavators. This initiative supports the company’s objective to eliminate diesel use across its operations.

Long-Term Impact

The combination of large-scale wind and solar projects, along with the electrification of mining equipment, positions Fortescue as a major player in the global shift toward sustainable mining practices. The company’s transition is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions and set a new benchmark for the mining industry in renewable energy integration.

With the East Pilbara Generation Hub at the center of its strategy, Fortescue is advancing toward its stated goal of removing fossil fuels from its value chain and achieving full decarbonization across its Australian mining sites.

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