200-Turbine Wind Project Planned by Fortescue for Western Australia’s Pilbara
Fortescue has submitted plans to build a 2.1-gigawatt wind farm near Marble Bar in Western Australia, aiming to significantly reduce its carbon emissions by 2030. The proposal, lodged with the WA Environmental Protection Authority, outlines the installation of up to 200 wind turbines across a remote site selected for its strong wind conditions and minimal vegetation.
The wind farm will be connected to the Iron Bridge mine via a 110km-long, 220kV transmission line. Fortescue estimates the project will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 1.5 million tonnes annually--around 70% of its current footprint--as it strives for net zero emissions by the end of the decade, a target set by its chair, Andrew Forrest.
The company is considering innovative construction techniques, including Nabrawind's self-erecting towers, which use less concrete. The project will also include up to five substations with battery storage and a camp for 1,000 construction workers.
Construction is expected to begin after environmental approval is granted in late 2026, with a build period of 32 to 42 months, targeting operations by mid-2029. Consultation with the Nyamal people, the area's native title holders, began in 2023.
