PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Construction has started on one of the world’s largest off-grid mining solar and battery energy storage systems at mining major BHP’s Nickel West Mt Keith and Leinster operations.

The Northern Goldfields solar project, being built by TransAlta, includes a 27.4 MW solar farm at Mt Keith, a 10.7 MW solar farm and a 10.1 MW battery at Leinster, and will be integrated into TransAlta’s Northern Goldfields remote power grid.

The project, which will replace power currently supplied by diesel and gas, will help BHP Nickel West reduce scope 2 emissions at its Mt Keith and Leinster operations by 12% resulting in an estimated reduction of 54 000 t carbon dioxide equivalent a year.

BHP said on Wednesday that the construction phase of the project was set to create more than 100 direct and indirect jobs in the Goldfields and Perth regions and was expected to produce its first solar power by November 2022.

BHP Nickel West asset president Jessica Farrell said BHP was meeting its commitment to deliver sustainable low carbon nickel to its customers, a product that was in high demand for power batteries and electric vehicles.

“The Northern Goldfields solar project is BHP’s first off-grid large-scale renewable energy project across our global operations and, significantly, will remove the equivalent of up to 23 000 combustion engine cars from the road every year, supporting our greenhouse gas reduction targets,” Farrell said.

“It is also very exciting that following years of close engagement with the Tjiwarl Native Title Holders, our project has contracted the services of a local Aboriginal business, boosting opportunities for people in the local community and across the northern Goldfields generally,” she said.

TransAlta on Wednesday also announced that it had entered into an agreement with BHP to identify potential wind sites for a 40 MW to 50 MW wind farm, which would connect to TransAlta’s northern grid and reduce scope 2 emissions at BHP’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations by an estimated further 30%.
 
Adding wind will increase renewable energy supply to support BHP’s growth and to further each company’s sustainability goals.

TransAlta Australia MD Kelvin Koay said the construction phase of the solar and battery farm was an exciting step for the project.

“The Northern Goldfields solar project is TransAlta’s first renewable energy project in Australia and is an important element of our clean electricity growth plan. This project contributes to achieving TransAlta’s target of a 75% greenhouse gas emissions reduction over 2015 levels by 2026 and the 2050 carbon neutrality goal. As a company, we have a strong decarbonisation track record having already achieved a 61% emissions reduction since 2005.

“We’ve had a long-standing partnership with BHP since the 1990s and we welcome the opportunity to support BHP in meeting its carbon emission targets and in enhancing its competitiveness as one of the lowest carbon nickel miners in the world,” added Koay.

The state government has, meanwhile, welcomed the start of construction, with Mines and Petroleum Minister Bill Johnston saying the companies were setting a great example of new social and environmental standards.

“The government is supportive of mining and resources companies that are embracing renewable energy solutions, which all contribute to our target of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Nickel is a key ingredient for a low carbon energy future, and this is another step forward for the government’s Future Battery Industry Strategy.”