Fortescue has delivered its first large-scale battery storage (BESS) installation at North Star Junction (NSJ), in Australia’s Pilbara region. The new battery system uses BYD’s ‘Blade Battery’ technology. Fortescue’s first BESS at NSJ is the start of a planned 4-5 GWh rollout of battery storage systems. The installations falls central to the company’s decarbonization push for its iron-ore mining operations in Pilbara. This environmental friendly push is also mirrored by projects like Upper Calliope solar farm that will power aluminium smelting and refining operations once operational. The developments also come as part of a broader infrastructure boom seen in the country as construction starts on the largest logistics hub in Australia inside the $1.62B Beveridge precinct.
Project Overview
The NSJ BESS consists of 48 storage containers, with a total capacity of 250 MWh. They also have a nominal discharge rating of 50 MW for five hours. This allows for renewable energy generated during the day to be stored and fed into the company’s transmission network at night. Australia is certainly not new to renewable generation for mining operations as several rollouts are already in place including the Dugald River solar farm that overtook Fortescue’s Chichester solar plant as the largest remote-grid installation when completed in 2024.
Fortescue also says the new battery will supply its existing 100 MW solar farm at NSJ and integrate into the broader Pilbara Energy Connect (PEC) network. The PEC network is a transmission plus generation and storage ecosystem designed to replace diesel and gas generation across Fortescue’s mining operations. The BESS installation has also been called a ‘game changer’ in Fortescue’s ‘Real Zero’ goal to eliminate fossil fuel use in its mining operations by 2030. The NSJ battery is currently the largest deployed in the company’s mining operations, but according to Fortescue, this is just the beginning. Additional battery systems are planned at other sites. For example the 120 MWh BESS at its Eliwana mine targeted for early 2026. Fortescue also has power purchase agreements with Bulli Creek Solar Park currently under development in Queensland.
Project Factsheet for Fortescue’s North Star Junction BYD Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
Developer: Fortescue Metals Group
Location: North Star Junction, 145 km south of Port Hedland in Western Australia’s Pilbara region.
Installed Capacity: 250 MWh
Power Discharge Rating: 50 MW for 5 hours
Battery Technology: BYD Blade battery modules in 48 containerized energy storage units. Also feature liquid-cooling design for high ambient temperatures in Pilbara.
Project Utility: Supply overnight power to Fortescue’s mining operations. Also support grid stabilization and fossil fuel displacement.
Long-Term Plan: First installation in broader 4-5 GWh rollout of large-scale storage. Aim is to decarbonize Fortescue’s mining operations across the Pilbara by 2030.
Other Project Infrastructure: BESS is integrated with the PEC transmission network. Project also features co-location with a 100 MW solar farm at NSJ.
Timeline of Key Milestones
To 2023: Fortescue already running smaller batteries at mining sites. The company also has a 26 MW short-duration battery system at North Star and a 16 MW battery at Solomon mine. Their utility span grid stability to a ‘spinning reserve’ function.
2025: Company approves investment in large-scale BESS systems at North Star Junction and Eliwana. Also included in the plans is further renewable generation and transmission infrastructure under PEC.
November 2025: Fortescue delivers its first large-scale BYD BESS with 250 MWh/50 MW capacity to North Star Junction, marking the launch of its multi-GWh storage rollout.
Early 2026: Next BESS installation expected at Eliwana mine, continuing the rollout of storage across the network.
