Andrew Forrest’s iron ore giant Fortescue says it has started construction on its first wind project, which is to feature unique “self-lifting” towers and the most powerful turbines yet seen in Australia.
The 133 megawatt (MW) Nullagine wind project will feature 17 turbines that will use the “self-lifting” technology developed by Spain’s Nabrawind that Fortescue bought last year, as well as 7.8 MW turbines provided by Envision, its biggest turbine deal to date in Australia.
The start of construction of the wind project marks a new phase for Fortescue, and for its plans to build multiple gigawatts of large scale wind and solar, and up to 5 gigawatt hours of battery storage, to make his giant iron ore mines in the Pilbara fossil fuel free by 2030.
That plan also includes the electrification of the mines’ entire fleet of giant haul trucks (up to 400 of them), the use of electric cars and other trucks, and electric bulldozers and excavators.
Fortescue is also building its 190 MW Cloudbreak solar farm, and says more than 300,000 panels have already been installed at the facility.
The self-lifting technology delivered by Nabrawind is considered critical by Fortescue as it reduces the amount of concrete needed in foundations, gives access to better wind speeds at heights, and reduces logistical challenges and requires smaller cranes.
A Nabrawind turbine
The turbines are also designed for low-wind environments and are engineered to withstand extreme weather, including cyclones, which have already battered the region, and put the recently installed solar and battery installation at Port Hedland to the test. (The solar and battery survived without issue).
Fortescue says the hub height of the Nullagine turbines will be 188 metres, which it says sets a new global benchmark for onshore wind, and will unlock significantly higher energy yield. The blades will be 89 metres long.
As Renew Economy has reported, a Nabrawind-integrated turbine of this design has already been installed as a prototype at an Envision testing facility in China, and will be relocated to the Pilbara in June 2026.
See: Andrew Forrest makes big bet on self-lifting turbines in landmark “real zero” deal with Envision
“Delivering Real Zero requires replacing diesel and gas with reliable, industrial-scale renewable energy,” Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto said in a statement.
“Wind – alongside solar and batteries – provides the dependable, low-cost power we need to electrify our haul trucks, drills, processing plants and rail across the Pilbara.
“The Nullagine Wind Project will feed directly into Pilbara Energy Connect, strengthening supply by balancing daytime solar with strong night-time and seasonal wind generation.
“With Cloudbreak solar well advanced and large-scale batteries already delivered at North Star Junction, this is a baseload renewable energy system that’s being built, tested and delivered in real operating conditions.”
Fortescue plans to build up to 3 gigawatts of wind, solar and battery storage across the Pilbara by 2030 to fulfull its ambition of reaching “real zero” by that time – meaning it will not burn fossil fuels for any terrestrial use at its giant iron ore mines.
It has already installed electric excavators and its trialling the first of nearly 400 giant 264-tonne electric haul trucks at the site. This week, it also announced the purchase of a US-bad battery controls specialist to enhance the operation of its grid scale and mobile batteries.
A lot of the wind capacity will built around Nullagine, which is in effect the first stage and the testing ground of the adjoining Bonney Downs wind project, which could feature 200 turbines and have a capacity of up to 2 gigawatts. The company is also looking at more capacity at its East Pilbara Renewable Hub further to the south.
The 7.8 MW turbines provided by Envision will beat the 7.2 MW Vestas turbines announced earlier this week by Tilt Renewables for its 288 MW Palmer wind project in South Australia.
The addition of Nullagine, means that five wind projects have now reached FID in Australia in the past month – along with Palmer, Waddi, Carmody Hill and Delburn – breaking a near year-long investment drought in the wind industry.
