Fortescue has started building a 440 MW solar facility at Solomon Airport in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The project is expected to become the state’s largest solar installation and will support the company’s strategy to decarbonize mining operations through large-scale renewable energy deployment.
Fortescue has commenced construction of a 440 MW solar farm at Solomon Airport in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, according to official statements. Once operational, the facility is expected to be the largest solar development in the state and will form a central component of the company’s strategy to reduce operational emissions.
The project involves the installation of approximately 671,000 solar panels and is scheduled for completion in 2028. The development is designed to contribute roughly one-third of the solar generation capacity required for Fortescue’s Real Zero target, an initiative aimed at eliminating fossil fuel use across its mining operations.
The project follows the ongoing construction of the 190 MW Cloudbreak solar farm, which is currently about two-thirds complete.
Expanding renewable generation capacity within the Pilbara is significant for Australia’s mining and energy sectors, where large industrial sites are increasingly integrating clean energy sources to manage power costs and emissions obligations. Solar generation combined with wind resources, high-voltage transmission infrastructure, and battery storage is expected to strengthen energy security for remote mining operations that traditionally rely on diesel or gas-based power systems.
Fortescue is one of the world’s largest iron ore producers and operates major mining assets across the Pilbara. The company has been investing heavily in renewable energy and green technology initiatives to transition its operations toward low-carbon power systems while maintaining large-scale mineral production.
The Solomon Airport solar farm highlights growing investment in utility-scale renewable infrastructure linked to industrial operations, a trend that may influence energy procurement strategies across Australia’s resource sector.
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