Australian mining giant Fortescue has moved up the timeline for its 1.8GW renewable energy portfolio, paired with 4-5GWh of battery storage, now aiming for commercial operation by 2028.
Comprising 1.2GW of solar PV and 600MW of wind power, the portfolio is described by Fortescue as “the world’s largest off-grid system” for heavy industry. The miner expects the first 290MW of solar capacity to come online in early 2027. A Fortescue spokesperson confirmed to PV Tech that the portfolio will use LONGi solar panels, BYD batteries and Envision Energy wind turbines.
Fortescue has previously announced plans to deploy 4-5GWh of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in Western Australia. These batteries will enable “24-hour periods” where mining equipment operates without fossil fuels across the company’s operations by late 2027.
The accelerated renewable project advances Fortescue’s “Real Zero” decarbonisation plan, which originally targeted zero scope one and two emissions by 2030. In comments on LinkedIn, Daniel Hewitt, Fortescue’s health and safety and R&D superintendent, stated the project will require US$6.2 billion in capital expenditure (capex). However, he noted it will “pay itself back in a few years” by cutting diesel-related operational expenditure (opex) by US$818 million per year starting from 2030.
The 1.8GW portfolio is being built to power Fortescue’s extensive mining operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Earlier this year, the company kicked off construction on a 440MW solar PV project in the region—set to be the state’s largest upon completion in 2028—which is part of the broader renewables-plus-storage hub.
In December 2025, CEO Dino Otranto revealed that Fortescue had secured “pricing that hasn’t really been seen” for its battery projects in the region, without providing further details on the pricing terms.
Western Australia is home to some of the world’s largest iron ore reserves, which have been the foundation of Fortescue’s business since its establishment. The miner shipped a record 198.4 million tonnes of iron ore in the 12 months to June 2025, up from 191.6 million tonnes in the prior 12-month period. Last July, Fortescue announced it expects iron ore export volumes to grow by up to 3% in the coming year.
