Australian miner Fortescue’s board has approved a $680 million investment to expand its green energy capacity in Western Australia’s Pilbara region. The company will develop a 200 MW Pilbara Green Energy Project, adding renewable generation beyond its 'Real Zero by 2030' targets. Fortescue says the project will feature a fully integrated, off-grid system with large-scale battery storage and firming capability, and is expected to be completed by 2028. It also plans to expand the system to a multi-GW scale beyond 2030.
The company shared that this investment builds on its broader $6.2 billion decarbonization program and aligns with growing demand for clean power from industries such as data centers. Fortescue said the project will leverage its existing Green Grid model, which is expected to reach 1.2 GW of solar, 600 MW of wind, and up to 5 GWh of storage by 2028 (see Fortescue Pushes ‘World-1st’ Fully Green Industrial Energy Grid).
French energy group TotalEnergies, in partnership with Philippines-based renewable energy developer Nextnorth, has secured financing and started construction of a 440 MW solar power plant in the Philippines. Located in Ilagan, Isabela province, the project is co-owned by TotalEnergies and Nextnorth (65:35).
It is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2027, generating about 13.5 TWh of electricity over 20 years. More than half of the output will be supplied under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) to AdventEnergy and PrimeRES for commercial and industrial (C&I) users. The rest will be sold to the national grid under the government’s renewable energy auction program. The project, with an estimated cost of $300 million, is financed by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, ING Bank NV, and Standard Chartered. TotalEnergies describes it as the largest international financing secured for a solar project in the Philippines to date.
“This 440 MW will contribute to the 9 GW renewable energy portfolio that we are grouping with Masdar in a 50/50 joint venture in nine Asian countries,” said Olivier Jouny, Head of Renewables at TotalEnergies.
The Australian Government’s AUD 1 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund (HEUF) has supported more than 10,000 energy upgrades across over 4,100 homes, reaching the milestone in the quarter ending December 2025. A program managed by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), it offers discounted financing for energy-efficient improvements, including solar PV systems, batteries, insulation, double-glazed windows, and electric appliances. Batteries, inverters, and solar modules are the most popular upgrades.
Since its launch in May 2024, over AUD 400 million has been committed through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), with participating lenders matching the amount, bringing total investment above AUD 800 million. The scheme has participation from 7 lenders (Plenti, Westpac, ING Australia, Bank Australia, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Brighte, and Plico Energy), with more expected to join from 2026. DCCEEW says that HEUF also complements the Cheaper Home Batteries Program, introduced in July 2025, which has helped drive strong growth in battery and solar uptake.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has approved a new solar PV module manufacturing investment in Batangas, aimed at strengthening the country’s renewable energy supply chain and export capacity. Genuine Renewable Energy and Eco-Friendly Energy Network Corp. (GREEENC) signed a registration agreement with PEZA on April 13, 2026, as a new ecozone enterprise. The company plans to invest PHP 370 million to launch solar module manufacturing operations at the Light Industry and Science Park III in Santo Tomas.
It will cater to the residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, utility-scale, and off-grid application markets in Europe, according to local media reports. The agreement was signed by PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga and GREEENC Chairman Joseph P. Aguilar. PEZA said that the investment will strengthen the country’s push to expand its renewable energy supply chain and export capacity.