Aggreko has unveiled plans to build what it says will be Australia’s largest off-grid renewable hybrid power plant, after signing a long-term power purchase agreement with the owner of Queensland’s largest proposed copper mine.
Scotland-based energy solutions company Aggreko has completed a “landmark” power purchase agreement (PPA) with South African mining company Harmony Gold for the Eva copper project being developed in north-west Queensland.
Aggreko said the PPA, with a minimum 15-year term, paves the way for the development of “Australia’s largest off-grid renewable hybrid power plant and one of the most advanced in the country” to support the construction and operation of the AUD2.4 billion ($1.67 billion) open-pit copper mine being developed by Harmony, about 75 kilometers northeast of Cloncurry.
The new power plant will combine a 118 MWp solar park with a 250 MWh battery energy storage system, supported by a 104 MVA thermal power plant. Aggreko will construct, own and operate the building which it says will be optimized for the use of renewable energy sources, giving Harmony “a resilient and future-oriented energy platform.”
“This combination will enable high renewable energy contribution, lower fuel consumption and improved emissions performance throughout the mine life cycle,” the company said in a statement, adding that it is working with Harmony to increase the share of renewable energy generation, including potential wind integration and future grid connection.
Aggreko said this will ensure the energy solution remains flexible and grows with the mine’s long-term requirements.
George Whyte, Aggreko’s Managing Director for APAC, said the Eva project is a milestone for both the company and the Australian mining sector.
“The size of this renewable hybrid power plant and the level of integration between solar, battery storage and thermal generation sets a new benchmark for off-grid energy,” he said. “Our long-term agreement reflects Aggreko’s commitment to working with the industry to deliver innovative energy solutions with lower emissions that are both commercially and operationally robust.”
The Eva project is an example of a shift in Australia’s resources sector, with miners increasingly turning to renewable energy sources in their quest to improve their economics and energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprint.
Among those set to make this move is Liontown Resources, which is working with Australian remote power generation specialist Zenith Energy to roll out a 95 MW hybrid facility to power the Kathleen Valley lithium mine in Western Australia.
The Kathleen Valley facility combines 17 MW of solar energy, 30 MW of wind energy and a 17 MW / 20 MWh battery energy storage system. In addition, the system includes 27 MW of gas generation and 5 MW of diesel generation.
Although recognized as the largest off-grid hybrid renewable energy power station in Australia, the facility will be dwarfed by a nearly 530MW power station that will power Northern Star Resources’ gold mining operations near Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia.
The proposed facility, to be supplied by Zenith, will combine 138 MW of solar generation, 256 MW of wind energy and a 138 MW/300 MWh battery storage system with 120 MW of thermal generation.
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