ARENA helps fund Fortescue's Solar Innovation Hub
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed A$45-million to establish a first-of-its-kind Solar Innovation Hub with Fortescue, aimed at driving down the cost of large-scale solar power and accelerating Australia’s green energy transition.
Funded under the Advancing Renewables Programme, the Pilbara-based hub will trial emerging solar technologies across Fortescue’s renewable-energy portfolio, including the 190 MW Cloudbreak solar farm, now more than a third complete.
“This opportunity to work with ARENA is a strong endorsement of Fortescue’s commitment to pioneering renewable-energy solutions at scale,” said Fortescue Metals and Operations CEO Dino Otranto.
“The Solar Innovation Hub will allow us to trial and refine new technologies that improve safety, speed up delivery and drive down costs – helping us and Australia accelerate the transition to green energy.”
Initial trials will include autonomous piling systems from Built Robotics – which will install more than 1 200 solar piles at Cloudbreak – and a collaboration with Australian solar company 5B to test its prefabricated Maverick modular solar system designed for rapid deployment in the Pilbara’s harsh conditions.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the initiative would help advance Australia’s ultralow-cost solar vision.
“Solar PV deployment is evolving as we find new ways to reduce costs, streamline logistics and adapt to challenging environmental conditions,” he said.
Up to 10 innovations will be trialled through the Solar Innovation Hub, with learnings shared across the industry to support broader adoption of cost-effective renewable-energy technologies.
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