Australian iron ore heavyweight Fortescue has announced it is fast-tracking construction of what it describes as the world’s first and largest industrial-scale, fully integrated green power grid, a project that will combine 1.2 GW of solar, 600+MW of wind, and 4 GWh-5 GWh of battery energy storage (BESS). Slated to enter commercial operation in 2028, the development represents far more than a blockbuster energy storage order for the new energy sector. It signals a structural shift from diesel-powered operations to a closed-loop “wind-solar-storage-utilization” model across the company’s Pilbara mining sites.
According to a Fortescue executive, Chinese new energy enterprises have emerged as the core force behind what the company calls a “project of the century” for heavy industry decarbonization. BYD, Longi Green Energy, Envision Energy, XCMG and other Chinese manufacturers are deeply embedded throughout the value chain. From battery storage systems and solar modules to wind turbines and electric mining trucks, Chinese-supplied solutions are systematically reshaping the energy architecture of global mining.
The green grid is expected to enable Fortescue to reach its “Real Zero 2030” target ahead of schedule, wiping out the Pilbara operations’ reliance on fossil fuels. It is also projected to deliver compelling economic returns: the company forecasts savings of $100 million in fossil fuel costs by 2027, and from 2030 onward, diesel operational expenditure will be cut by as much as $818 million annually.
BYD has been tasked with providing the battery energy storage backbone. A Fortescue executive noted that the procurement price achieved was “the lowest in Australian history,” adding that “the cost advantage of large-scale BESS is rapidly accelerating mining electrification. We are undoubtedly the biggest beneficiaries of China’s energy storage solutions—high-quality, long-duration, and at very attractive prices,” the executive said.
Public records show that Fortescue and BYD sealed their first strategic cooperation in October 2025, with BYD agreeing to supply next-generation BESS for Fortescue’s global grid decarbonization projects. In December of the same year, the initial demonstration unit, a 50 MW/250 MWh system utilizing BYD’s Blade Battery technology and its MC Cube storage platform, was delivered and installed, marking the first step in a phased plan to build out a total of 4 GWh to 5 GWh of storage capacity entirely on BYD’s technology pathway. The rollout continues in early 2026 with a second 120 MWh system at Eliwana, followed by a gradual expansion that will eventually bring the installed storage capacity to the full 4-5 GWh target, all based on BYD’s technology.
Beyond energy storage, other components of the mega-project are equally led by Chinese enterprises. The solar array will use high-efficiency modules from Longi Green Energy. On the wind side, the 133 MW Nullagine project has already broken ground. Envision Energy is supplying low-wind-speed, hurricane-resistant turbines that will serve as a critical pillar of stable power supply for the remote mine sites.
Meanwhile, mine fleet electrification is advancing in lockstep. XCMG electric loaders and bulldozers are already operating on site, and the cooperation is soon expected to expand to electric mining trucks. Together, these elements form a full-scenario electrification layout, integrating stationary energy storage with mobile electric equipment that underscores the pivotal role Chinese clean energy companies are playing in Fortescue’s green transformation.
Source: WeChat Official Account——电池中国
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