The local government of Western Australia (Australia) has cleared a 644 MW solar project that would power Fortescue mining operations in the Pilbara region. The Turner River Solar Hub is planned to be located at 120 km south of Port Hedland and it comprises the installation of 644 MW of solar panels, a battery energy storage system (BESS), a substation and a 220 kV transmission line. The project may still have to go through a federal review before it starts construction works, with the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW) currently seeking public comments on the project under its Environmental Protection Act until 11 June 2025.
The power plant is aligned with Fortescue’s efforts to achieve “real zero” Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, without carbon offsets by transitioning its power mix from diesel power and gas to approximately 1.5 GW of solar generation. The company is currently developing a 190 MW solar project at the Cloudbreak mine and commissioned the 100 MW North Star Junction solar project in 2024.
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