News

Two projects using different technologies on opposite sides of Australia in vastly different landscapes but linked by one person, Mr Andrew Forrest, made progress during the week.

Fortescue Mining Group, of which Forrest is Executive Chairman, has started the approval process for its Turner River Solar Hub to help power its mining operations in the Pilbara region of WA.

The 1416.6 hectare project development site is located on the Iron Bridge minesite access road, approximately 120km south of Port Hedland within the Kariyarra Native Title determination area.

Fortescue is planning the installation of solar panels and an associated substation with an estimated total capacity of 644 MW.

220kV transmission line spurs will connect the solar hub to Fortescue’s existing Pilbara Energy Connect transmission system at the North Star Junction substation, which is being constructed as part of the Pilbara Transmission Project.

Turner River Solar Hub will assist with Fortescue’s aim to transition the iron ore miner from using diesel power and gas to renewable energy by 2030, which the company believes will require a total capacity of 1500 MW of solar PV generation.

The overall Pilbara Generation Project includes the 117 MW North Star Junction Solar Farm and BESS project completed last year, the 150 MW Lambda Junction Solar Farm, a 20 MW/120 MWh BESS to support the Eliwana and Flying Fish mining hubs, and a 130 MW solar farm at the Cloudbreak which, as AltEnergy understands, will start construction in the coming months.

In NSW, Squadron Energy has submitted a referral for its proposed Bookham Wind Farm, to be located approximately 30km west of Yass in the Yass Valley Council LGA on Ngunnawal Country, to the DCCEEW for assessment under the EPBC Act.

The 594 MW project consists of 99 wind turbines and a battery energy storage system with capacity of 250 MW / 1000 MWh.

It will connect to either the existing 330kV Yass to Lower Tumut transmission line and 132kV transmission line, or the proposed 500kV HumeLink connecting Wagga Wagga, Bannaby and Maragle.

The overall project site covers 11,896 hectares of mainly freehold land, which includes a development corridor of 3853ha.

It’s expected approximately 270 to 300 full time equivalent jobs will be created during the two-year construction phase, with 12 full time equivalent jobs required during the 30-year operational life of the project.

Squadron Energy is owned by Andrew and Nicola Forrest's Tattarang group, as is another significant Australian renewable energy developer Windlab.