News Synopsis
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
Project: Turner River Solar Farm & Cloudbreak BESS
Capacity: 690MW solar + 650MWh BESS
Location: Pilbara, Western Australia
Developer: Fortescue
Technology: Solar PV and lithium-ion battery energy storage
Additional Assets: Solomon Airport Solar Farm (440MW), Cloudbreak Solar Farm (190MW), North Star Junction Solar Farm (100MW)
BESS Output: 74MW for approximately eight hours
Completion Timeline: Cloudbreak BESS FY27; Turner River Solar Farm in 2028
Status: Under construction
Fortescue, an Australian mining and renewable energy company, has commenced construction of 690MW Turner River solar farm and a 650MWh BESS at Cloudbreak in Pilbara region as part of its Real Zero decarbonization strategy aimed at powering iron ore operations with renewable energy.
The Turner River solar farm represents the final solar installation required under Fortescue’s Real Zero plan. The Cloudbreak BESS will provide 74MW dispatchable power for up to eight hours. The battery system will comprise of 124 battery units. The battery unit is integrated with the existing Cloudbreak solar farm to support balancing electricity supply and demand by storing excess renewable generation and improving operational reliability across mining activities. Fortescue is expanding the use of electric mining equipment across the company's Pilbara operations which includes haul trucks, excavators and charging infrastructure, as part of efforts to reduce diesel consumption.
The projects form part of the company’s Pilbara Green Grid renewable energy ecosystem, supported by more than 480km of high-voltage transmission infrastructure which is already constructed across Pilbara. Once the project is completed, the transmission network is expected to exceed 620km, linking renewable generation assets with Fortescue’s mines, rail and port facilities. Construction of the Turner River solar farm is scheduled for completion in 2028 and will involve installation of more than one million solar panels, while the Cloudbreak BESS is targeted for completion in fiscal year 2027. The company has also commissioned battery storage systems in other places like Eliwana and North Star Junction to strengthen renewable power integration and grid stability across its operations.
Fortescue said the combined renewable portfolio, including the 440MW Solomon Airport solar farm, 190MW Cloudbreak solar farm and 100MW North Star Junction solar farm, will deliver more than 1.4GW of renewable energy capacity. The projects are intended to support energy security for mining operations, reduce exposure to fuel market volatility and advance industrial decarbonization within Australia’s resources sector. The addition of battery storage and renewable generation is expected to support peak demand management and provide firmer renewable power supply across remote mining operations.
According to the company, the Cloudbreak BESS and associated renewable infrastructure are central to achieving Real Zero emissions across Fortescue’s terrestrial iron ore operations. Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO Dino Otranto stated that the company is working on the deployment of solar farms, batteries, transmission lines and wind generation infrastructure across Pilbara to reduce diesel consumption in most of the company's mining operations.
Fortescue said about half of its excavators are expected to be electric by the end of 2026. The company also expects its first battery-electric haul truck to enter service before the end of the year. It has started commissioning 6MW fast charger developed in-house is designed to charge haul trucks in about 30 minutes. Construction is also continuing at 133MW Nullagine Wind Farm which will add more renewable power for Pilbara operations.