The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing $45 million to support Fortescue’s Pilbara Solar Innovation Hub. This unique initiative is to test new technologies to lower the cost of green energy and speed up Australia's energy transition.

The Hub will operate across Fortescue's renewable projects, including the 190MW Cloudbreak solar farm currently under construction.

Fortescue will trial up to ten innovations, such as autonomous piling systems from Built Robotics and modular solar solutions from 5B, to improve safety and deployment speed in remote locations.

Fortescue CEO Dino Otranto said the Hub will help refine new technologies, accelerating the shift to green energy. ARENA CEO Darren Miller added that the project will drive down solar costs for heavy industry, with learnings to be shared industry-wide.