The Northern Goldfields Solar and Battery Storage Facility, a collaboration between BHP and TransAlta, has been switched online to help reduce scope 2 emissions at BHP Nickel West operations by 12%.
The Northern Goldfields Solar and Battery Storage Facility spans 90 hectares of land and is one of the world’s largest off-grid mining solar and battery energy storage systems.
The project, replacing power now generated by diesel and gas, will be a crucial step towards BHP’s goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 30% by FY2030.
It consists of a 27.4 MW solar farm at Mt Keith, a 10.7 MW solar farm, and a 10.1 MW battery at Leinster, which are linked to TransAlta’s Northern Goldfields remote power line.
BHP Australia President Geraldine Slattery said the facility was an essential step towards meeting BHP’s greenhouse gas emission reduction targets and helping the company reach its aim of being one of the world’s most sustainable nickel providers.
“Renewables are increasingly powering BHP operations around the globe and this facility — the first we have built on one of our sites — is another step forward in our plans to reduce our operational greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30 per cent by FY30, from FY20 levels,” Slattery stated.
“Nickel is in high demand for batteries and electric vehicles, and this progress is part of our commitment to delivering more sustainable, lower carbon product to our customers.”
BHP Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell stated that the project was one of many ways Nickel West was decreasing operational emissions; the company was also looking into wind farms in the northern and southern Goldfields.
“It’s fantastic to see the Northern Goldfields Solar and Battery Storage Facility switched on. It’s on the back of a team of dedicated engineers, technicians and many others bringing new ideas to the table to support the development and integration of reliable and affordable renewable power to our business,” Farrell said.
TransAlta President and CEO John Kousinioris commented, “We are excited to work together with BHP to realise this innovative solution to meet BHP’s renewable electricity needs. This facility represents a first for both companies – it’s BHP’s first on-site, large-scale renewable project globally, and it’s TransAlta’s first renewable energy facility in Australia. It’s also the first time we have combined solar and battery storage to offer a hybrid solution.”
Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum Bill Johnston MLA congratulated BHP and TransAlta on their groundbreaking renewable energy facility.
“It’s projects like these that are setting a global standard of what a modern mine looks like, with a big focus on the environment and reducing carbon emissions,” Minister Johnston said.
