South African miner Gold Fields has contracted with Scottish energy firm Aggreko to greater than double the scale of an off-grid hybrid photo voltaic and battery microgrid that helps energy its Granny Smith mining operation in Western Australia. .
From pv journal Australia
The decarbonization of Gold Field’s gold mining operation in Western Australia is gaining momentum, with Aggreko saying that it’ll develop the present renewable energy system to extend capability to 19 MW of photo voltaic, supported by a 9 MW/4.5 MWh battery power storage system. .
Glasgow-headquartered Aggreko mentioned the expanded system would construct on the present 7.7 MW photo voltaic farm and a pair of MW/1 MWh battery system that helped energy the mine close to Laverton, about 1,000 km northeast of the Western Australian state capital Perth, since 2020.
The newly expanded renewable parts can be built-in with the present 27.3 MW fuel energy station to ship what can be one among Australia’s largest hybrid off-grid microgrids. The solar-plus-battery system is deliberate to offer about 21% of the mine’s electrical energy wants.
George Whyte, managing director of Aggreko APAC, mentioned the corporate received the unique contract to construct, personal and function the Granny Smith energy station in 2016. Since then, it has been working with Gold Fields to develop. and decarbonizing the mine’s energy system.
“Aggreko’s focus is on effectivity and reliability in step with mine life electrical energy wants, in addition to contributing to the decarbonization of the area,” Whyte mentioned.
The growth of the photo voltaic farm comes as Gold Fields prepares to conduct a pre-feasibility research investigating the way it might generate 75% of Granny Smith’s power wants from renewable sources. Potential options embody extra photo voltaic, a bigger battery, and a wind farm later within the decade.
Granny Smith General Manager Mark Glazebrook mentioned the growth of the photo voltaic farm and battery storage system is a big milestone for the mine.
“The expanded hybrid energy station not solely makes our operation extra cost-efficient and improves power reliability, however it additionally demonstrates our dedication to facilitate renewable makes use of in any respect Gold Fields websites ,” he mentioned. “This is a superb step ahead in Granny Smith’s decarbonisation journey as we search to cut back our greenhouse fuel emissions and ship on our ESG (environmental, social and governance) commitments.”
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