Fortescue Metals Group has officially begun construction on its ambitious new Solomon Airport solar project. This undertaking will boast a truly remarkable capacity of 440 megawatts (MW). This new initiative comes on the heels of construction on the adjacent 190 MW Cloudbreak solar farm, now two-thirds finished. The Solomon project will add considerable renewable energy muscle to Fortescue—helping drive it further toward its recently unveiled Real Zero goal.
When complete in 2028, the Solomon Airport facility will be Western Australia’s largest solar installation. Fortescue is preparing for growth! Their vision includes 750 kilometres of high voltage transmission lines, which would run in all directions across the Pilbara region. When complete, these lines will span more than 620 kilometers. They will make delivery of renewable energy from multiple sources possible.
The 3,343MW Solomon project will deliver about a third of the solar capacity required to achieve Fortescue’s Real Zero target. The current 100 MW North Star Junction solar farm is part of a long list of 1.3 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity, truly making it the Sunshine State. That’s enough renewable energy to power more than 500,000 average Australian homes per year!
Fortescue’s commitment to renewable energy is evident through its Pilbara Energy Connect initiative, which aims to enhance infrastructure for sustainable energy production. Construction is set to begin later this year on a 644 MW solar farm at Turner River. This initiative is central to our new strategy.
Dino Otranto, CEO of Fortescue Metals and Operations, highlighted the company’s commitment to utilizing renewable resources.
“Across the Pilbara, we are using the region’s sun and wind to generate green power for our sites.” – Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO
The installation of an estimated 671,000 solar panels will be one of the most visible pieces of the Solomon project. Otranto noted the efficiency improvements in each successive solar undertaking, stating:
“Importantly, each successive solar project is being delivered more efficiently than the last. As technology improves and we gain scale, our installed capital intensity continues to come down – strengthening the economics of replacing diesel and gas with renewable energy.” – Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO
It will be one of the largest renewable energy projects ever undertaken by a heavy industry corporate in Australia. As a pioneer in sustainable energy practices, Fortescue is meeting the world’s increasing demand for clean power solutions.