Energy outfit EDL has completed a 56MW offgrid hybrid renewables-powered plant for Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine in remote Western Australia.
The project’s 18MW wind farm, comprising five Goldwind GW140/3.57MW turbines, has now been integrated into the microgrid.
The project also includes a 4MW photovoltaic array, a 13MW/4 megawatt-hour battery and a 21MW gas/diesel fired power plant.
In favourable weather conditions the plant is able to delivered up to 70% of Agnew’s power requirements with renewable energy.
EDL is responsible for designing, constructing, owning and operating the microgrid under a 10-year agreement with Gold Fields.
EDL chief executive James Harman said the company was “proud to partner” with Gold Fields on the landmark project.
He said: “We applaud Gold Fields for their vision in embarking on this journey with us, and their role in leading the Australian mining industry’s transition to clean, reliable renewable energy.
“We also acknowledge the incredible achievement of the EDL project delivery team and our contractors. We faced transport challenges during the bushfires and impacts on personnel from Covid-19 restrictions as well as geographical, logistics and technical challenges to safely construct this innovative energy facility in the remote Western Australia Goldfields region.”
Gold Fields executive vice president for Australasia Stuart Mathews added: “We are proud to be able to showcase this project with EDL as an outstanding example of the capacity of the hybrid renewable energy model to meet the dynamic power requirements of remote mining operations.
“For our people and our stakeholders, this is a very clear demonstration of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint whilst strengthening our security of supply.
“Having built our internal technical capability and developed strong relationships with our business partners, we are well placed to continue to implement renewables solutions elsewhere in our business.”