Fortescue has delivered its first-ever large-scale Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to North Star Junction (NSJ), marking a major milestone in the company’s mission to decarbonise its Pilbara iron ore operations.
This installation is the first in a planned 4-5GWh rollout of large-scale storage systems that will be required to decarbonise Fortescue’s energy supply over the coming years.
Powered by BYD’s advanced Blade Battery technology, the NSJ BESS will store renewable energy generated during the day and supply green power to Fortescue’s Pilbara Energy Connect (PEC) network at night.
The installation comprises 48 energy storage containers, providing a total capacity of 250MWh and capable of delivering up to 50MW of power for five hours.
Designed to provide critical grid stability, the BESS is a major step toward replacing fossil fuelled generation with renewable energy.
Fortescue Metals and Operations Chief Executive Officer, Dino Otranto said: “This is a big moment for Fortescue – we’re fundamentally changing the way we power our mines. These systems let us store solar power and use it when we need it most, helping us cut diesel and gas and run our sites on renewable energy.”
BYD’s Blade Batteries are engineered for high safety, reliability, and performance, featuring liquid cooling systems designed to operate efficiently in Pilbara temperatures and conditions.
Ms Yin Xueqin, General Manager of BYD Energy Storage and New Battery Application, said: “Fortescue is leading one of the most ambitious mining decarbonisation programs in the world, and BYD is proud to support this transformation.
“The NSJ BESS is an important milestone for our partnership, and we will continue working closely with Fortescue to deliver the large-scale storage needed to power a green Pilbara.”
Fortescue’s next BESS installation will be at Eliwana, with a 120MWh system scheduled for delivery and installation in early 2026. The company is also progressing construction of its 190MW Cloudbreak Solar Farm, which is now almost halfway complete, and has built more than 460 km of transmission lines as part of the PEC project.