In a statement on Wednesday, ARENA said the project, which will power the Agnew Gold Mine owned by South Africa-based Gold Fields Group, marked the first time the Australian mining sector had used wind generation as part of a large hybrid microgrid.
The combination of wind, solar and battery is expected to provide the mine with up to 60 per cent of its energy requirements, and – at times – will meet all of its power needs with renewables.
Gold Fields has also committed to use innovative operational practices including dynamic load shedding, renewable resource forecasting and IPP-controlled load management to maximise the use of renewables while ensuring system security.
“The project Gold Fields is undertaking will provide a blueprint for other companies to deploy similar off-grid energy solutions and demonstrate a pathway for commercialisation, helping to decarbonise the mining and resources sector,” said ARENA chief Darren Miller in a statement.
It is great that renewable energy is being incorporated in this mine site but I do have a problem with the whole mining industry when the time comes to rehabilitate sites at the end of mine life. The Australian Outback will end up looking like a map of the Moon because companies don’t put money aside for rehabilitation. The dollar rules again at the expense of the Environment.