The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has made available $45 million in funding from the Advancing Renewables Program to fund a unique initiative with Fortescue to develop a Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub. This first-of-its-kind initiative will trial emerging technologies to reduce the cost of renewable energy generation and support Australia’s green energy transition.
The Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub will operate across Fortescue’s growing renewable energy portfolio, including the 190MW Cloudbreak solar farm which is now over a third through construction.
Through the Hub, Fortescue will select and test a suite of new technologies aimed at improving safety, reducing costs, and accelerating large-scale solar deployment – including automation, advanced materials and next-generation solar construction techniques.
Built Robotics as first Innovation Case
One of the first projects supported under the Hub is a technology trial with Built Robotics, testing autonomous piling systems that could transform how solar farms are constructed in remote environments.
The trial, being delivered at the Cloudbreak solar farm, will see robotic systems install more than 1,200 solar piles, aiming to improve installation speed and consistency while reducing labour constraints in the Pilbara’s challenging conditions.
Want to get involved?
If you are an organisation and would like to express an interest in participating in the Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub, please email the team at solarInnovation@fortescue.com with an overview of your innovation.