Australian iron ore giant Fortescue has this week taken delivery of its second 14.5 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery electric locomotive, part of its plans to reach real zero emissions at its Pilbara iron ore operations by 2030.
Fortescue purchased the two new battery electric locomotives from Progress Rail back at the start of 2022 but only took delivery of the first unit in June of this year, two years after originally planned.
The 8-axle locomotives boast an energy capacity of 14.5 MWh and have been manufactured at Progress Rail’s facility in Sete Lagoas, Brazil. They will be used to transport iron ore to port.
The second locomotive arrived in Port Hedland late last week before making its way to Fortescue’s mining operations in the Pilbara. When fully operational, both locomotives will be recharged using renewable power from Fortescue’s own Pilbara Energy Connect transmission and generation project.
Fortescue announced the arrival of the second locomotive on the company’s LinkedIn account and claimed that the batteries powering the two locomotives are “two of the world’s largest land-mobile batteries”. Separately, Dino Otranto, Fortescue Metals CEO, claimed on his own LinkedIn account that they are “two of the world’s largest battery electric locomotives”.
Together, the two battery electric locomotives will eliminate approximately 1 million litres of diesel each year, recover between 40 to 60 per cent of energy through regenerative braking technology, and boast 2.8 MW high-power charging.
The two locomotives are an important step in Fortescue’s efforts to reach “real zero” by 2030.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.