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Released June 20, 2025 | GALWAY, IRELAND
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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--Australian mining major Fortescue (Perth) has submitted plans for the country's largest onshore windfarm to help decarbonize its mining operations in the Pilbara region.
The East Pilbara Generation Hub is a 2.1-gigawatt (GW) windfarm and 220-kilovolt (kV) transmission line connecting it over 90 kilometers (KM) to the company's Iron Bridge magnetite mine, in an effort to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The US$2.7 billion project would reduce the company's scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by "at least 1.5 million tonnes per year of CO2 equivalent," according to documents submitted to the Western Australia (WA) Environmental Protection Authority. The hub would allow the company to replace diesel and gas-fired stationary power sources currently serving the Iron Bridge mine, which is Fortescue's first foray into high-grade magnetite production, where the company has been using several new technologies to reduce energy consumption and water use.
In addition to the turbines and transmission lines, there will be substations and switchyards, reticulation lines, a borefield, roads, pipelines, corridors of overhead lines, a battery energy storage system (BESS), accommodation camps, wastewater treatment plant, optional airstrip and supporting infrastructure. The hub, spread across 2,318 hectares of land, will boast up to 200 turbines, each rated at 10 megawatts (MW), from spanish firm Nabrawind (Navarre, Spain). As well as being the largest turbines to be deployed in Australia, the Nabrawind Self Erecting Tower (Nabralift) turbines are a new design that allows the developers to quickly erect the turbines and change the height as necessary in the future. Nabralift uses a three-column framed structure installed under the uppermost part of a wind turbine generator (WTG) tubular tower. A self-erection system (SES) allows for the addition of extra three-column supports as well as the installation of a full WTG tower including nacelle and rotors without using large-size cranes "regardless of the final hub-height." Fortescue has invested in the company a number of times since 2023. The East Pilbara Generation Hub project will be the tallest in Australia, with a hub height of around 220 meters and a blade tip height of 290 meters.
Onshore wind is a well-established and rapidly growing sector in Australia, with more than 15 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. Industrial Info is tracking more than 230 onshore wind projects with an investment value exceeding US$220 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. The country is also preparing for a large push into the offshore wind sector. Industrial Info reported in May that the country's first offshore wind auction will be launched in September in the state of Victoria, which is spearheading the country's push into the sector. Victoria will be home to the nation's first offshore windfarms and has a target of 2 GW of capacity by 2032, 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040. Contracts will be awarded to the winners in late 2026. For additional information, see May 28, 2025, article--Australia's First Offshore Wind Auction Revealed.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
The East Pilbara Generation Hub is a 2.1-gigawatt (GW) windfarm and 220-kilovolt (kV) transmission line connecting it over 90 kilometers (KM) to the company's Iron Bridge magnetite mine, in an effort to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The US$2.7 billion project would reduce the company's scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by "at least 1.5 million tonnes per year of CO2 equivalent," according to documents submitted to the Western Australia (WA) Environmental Protection Authority. The hub would allow the company to replace diesel and gas-fired stationary power sources currently serving the Iron Bridge mine, which is Fortescue's first foray into high-grade magnetite production, where the company has been using several new technologies to reduce energy consumption and water use.
In addition to the turbines and transmission lines, there will be substations and switchyards, reticulation lines, a borefield, roads, pipelines, corridors of overhead lines, a battery energy storage system (BESS), accommodation camps, wastewater treatment plant, optional airstrip and supporting infrastructure. The hub, spread across 2,318 hectares of land, will boast up to 200 turbines, each rated at 10 megawatts (MW), from spanish firm Nabrawind (Navarre, Spain). As well as being the largest turbines to be deployed in Australia, the Nabrawind Self Erecting Tower (Nabralift) turbines are a new design that allows the developers to quickly erect the turbines and change the height as necessary in the future. Nabralift uses a three-column framed structure installed under the uppermost part of a wind turbine generator (WTG) tubular tower. A self-erection system (SES) allows for the addition of extra three-column supports as well as the installation of a full WTG tower including nacelle and rotors without using large-size cranes "regardless of the final hub-height." Fortescue has invested in the company a number of times since 2023. The East Pilbara Generation Hub project will be the tallest in Australia, with a hub height of around 220 meters and a blade tip height of 290 meters.
Onshore wind is a well-established and rapidly growing sector in Australia, with more than 15 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity. Industrial Info is tracking more than 230 onshore wind projects with an investment value exceeding US$220 billion. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the reports. The country is also preparing for a large push into the offshore wind sector. Industrial Info reported in May that the country's first offshore wind auction will be launched in September in the state of Victoria, which is spearheading the country's push into the sector. Victoria will be home to the nation's first offshore windfarms and has a target of 2 GW of capacity by 2032, 4 GW by 2035 and 9 GW by 2040. Contracts will be awarded to the winners in late 2026. For additional information, see May 28, 2025, article--Australia's First Offshore Wind Auction Revealed.
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
