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Operational Site

Cloudbreak

Cloudbreak is scaling renewable energy and helping prove heavy industry can operate without fossil fuels.

Operational Site Data

  • Location

    Australia

  • Product

    Hematite

  • Capacity

    Solar, Battery

  • Status

    Operational

Where it all began.

Our flagship site. Built to lead.

Cloudbreak was the site that changed everything.

From first ore production in 2008, it proved we could break into an industry others said was untouchable. No rail. No mine. We built it anyway.

Located in the Chichester Ranges of Western Australia’s Pilbara region, on Palyku and Nyiyaparli Country, Cloudbreak helped forge our path in iron ore. Now it’s helping drive our next chapter.

Today, the site is scaling renewable energy, deploying zero emissions electric excavators and helping prove heavy industry can operate without fossil fuels.

First we challenged the iron ore giants. Now we’re taking on fossil fuels.

Decarbonisation at Cloudbreak

Cloudbreak is helping shape the next phase of Fortescue's operations. Solar infrastructure is expanding at scale. Diesel-powered excavators are being replaced with zero emissions alternatives.

This isn’t about ticking climate boxes. It’s about building a faster, smarter and more competitive operation for the future.

  • Solar. Scaled.

    A 60MW solar farm already helps power daytime operations across the Chichester Hub. Now we’re scaling even further, with a 190MW solar farm under construction at Cloudbreak.

  • Diesel out. Electric in.

    Cloudbreak was the first of our sites to deploy electric excavators, leading the charge to replace diesel-powered mining equipment with zero emissions alternatives.

  • Airfield lighting

    Cloudbreak is home to the first airfield in Australia to operate with fully solar-powered airstrip lighting. Small system. Big signal of where the industry is heading.

Cloudbreak up close

20230912 - Corporate Photoshoot Cloudbreak Sum Effect (125).jpg

Help build what comes next

We’re cutting fossil fuels out of iron ore operations. Scaling renewable energy. Deploying the technology needed to decarbonise heavy industry.

And some of the biggest changes are happening right here at Cloudbreak.

If you want to work where the future is being built, now’s the time.

Join us.

Latest from the Pilbara

Follow the projects, progress and breakthroughs driving Real Zero across our Pilbara operations.