Fortescue has announced an expansion to its battery intelligence capabilities thanks to the acquisition of US-based company Zitara.
The on-site controls company is set to help Fortescue expand the services of its battery intelligence platform, Elysia, and strengthen the company’s position in the fast-growing battery energy storage system market.
For customers of battery energy storage systems, the move unlocks a “powerful combination” of cloud analytics paired with real-time on-premises controls to maximise trading revenue, asset lifetime, and safety.
In turn, the acquisition creates what is described as one of the fastest-growing enterprises in battery intelligence, purpose-built to service the world’s leading grid-scale storage operations.
“The acquisition of Zitara will expand the capabilities of our battery intelligence division, bringing together world-class cloud analytics with real time on-premises controls, complementing the existing work of Elysia and strengthening our position in the battery energy storage market,” Fortescue Elysia managing director Tim Engstrom said.
“Integrating real time on-site control systems with Elysia’s proven analytics gives us a unique, globally scalable platform. This positions Fortescue at the cutting edge of battery intelligence and supports our mission to accelerate decarbonisation across industry profitably,” Engstrom said.
Fortescue is among the first globally to take advantage of a full suite of battery intelligence offerings through installations in the Pilbara in Western Australia.
The company is also rolling out 4–5 gigawatt hours of storage systems, set to provide critical assistance to decarbonising iron ore operations by 2030.
The deal also further builds on Fortescue’s presence in key global markets, including the United States of America, Australia, and Europe: regions expected to more than double to over 500 gigawatt hours combined in the next five years.