Fortescue is making strides towards eliminating fossil fuels at its mining operations in the Pilbara by 2030, with the unveiling of the first of its two battery locomotives. The company plans to replace its diesel fleet with 70 battery-powered trains, generating regenerative power but requiring topping up at the port. Fortescue is also exploring various battery technologies, such as solid state, sodium ion, and different lithium ion chemistries, to improve the efficiency of its electric locomotives. The company aims to transition its entire fleet to electric vehicles and equipment, alongside building multiple gigawatts of wind and solar energy, and up to 5 gigawatt hours of battery storage. Challenges with battery capacity and energy density are being addressed as Fortescue tests the performance of the locomotives at the Thomas railway yard in Port Hedland.
Tag: Pilbara
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ARENA makes its biggest single solar tech grant to help Fortescue test new ideas for expanding PV plans
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has invested $45 million in Fortescue to test new solar technologies in the Pilbara region, aiming to achieve "real zero" emissions at its mines by 2030 through a 1.5 GW solar portfolio. The Solar Innovation Hub will trial technologies to improve safety, delivery speed, and cost reduction, with the goal of reducing barriers to large solar deployments and bringing down the cost of installed solar below $20 per megawatt hour by 2050. Co-locating innovations within Fortescue's solar farms allows for real-world testing and collaboration within the sector, while also funding trials for robotics in the construction process of solar farms to achieve ultra low-cost solar goals.