Industrial Transformation Stream drives decarbonisation in heavy industry
ARENA’s ITS program funds initiatives to reduce emissions at industrial sites, with Fortescue’s fast charger project leading the way.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is supporting industrial emissions reduction through its $400 million Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS), part of the Powering the Regions Fund. This program focuses on cutting emissions from industrial facilities in regional Australia by funding technologies such as electrification, energy efficiency, and zero-emissions vehicles.
Fortescue’s $35.3 million Fast Charger for Heavy Battery Electric Vehicles project, which received $10 million from ARENA, demonstrates the potential of the ITS to support innovative decarbonisation solutions. The project will develop 6 MW fast chargers capable of powering 240-tonne battery electric trucks in under 30 minutes. The chargers will be trialled at Fortescue’s Hazelmere and Christmas Creek mine sites.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said, “Heavy vehicle diesel use accounts for around a quarter of mining emissions and is one of the hardest areas to decarbonise.” The project reflects the ITS program's goal of addressing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors.
The ITS supports a wide range of projects, from feasibility studies to full-scale trials and deployments, with the aim of reducing scope 1 and scope 2 emissions. Eligible facilities must be located in regional areas and meet National Greenhouse Energy Reporting (NGER) criteria. The program also encourages collaboration and knowledge sharing to improve technology readiness and workforce skills in decarbonisation practices.
Fortescue Zero CEO Ellie Coates described the chargers as a scalable and rugged solution for heavy vehicles. "Leveraging our world-class capability in battery and charging solutions from motorsport, the fast chargers have been developed for the challenging conditions of the Pilbara,” she said. The chargers will also feature robotic connection options for enhanced safety.
Applications for ITS funding remain open, providing opportunities for industries to explore pathways to reduce their carbon footprint. ARENA continues to back projects that align with Australia’s emissions reduction goals for 2030 and net zero target by 2050.
