Alcoa Corp., a leading aluminum producer in the US, and rail freight operator Aurizon will start plans for a world-first Battery Electric Tender (BET) trial in Western Australia. The project, supported by an Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) grant and Alta Battery Technology, aims to integrate battery power into heavy haul rail to reduce emissions.

The trial will involve coupling a battery-powered train wagon with a modified locomotive, creating a hybrid system. This setup is designed to capture regenerative energy during braking and downhill travel and utilize a static charging station for power. The route will run between Alcoa's Pinjarra Alumina Refinery and Kwinana Port.

Alcoa regards the collaboration as a key step in its decarbonization strategy for upstream and downstream operations. The BET is scheduled to be deployed on the tracks in the second half of 2026.