Australia Govt: WA’s largest solar farm to slash mining emissions

In an Australian first, up to 100% of daytime operations at 2 Pilbara iron ore mines will be powered entirely by renewable energy. The new 60 MW Alinta Energy Chichester Hub Solar Farm will help reduce the use of diesel by around 100 million litres per year.

The solar farm is part of the Alinta Fortescue Solar Gas Hybrid project. The project received $24.2 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

The solar farm will power Fortescue Metals Group’s Chichester mining hub and will see transmission lines connect the hub and Roy Hill to Alinta’s existing 145 MW gas-fired Newman power station and its 35 MW/11MWh battery storage system.

The Hon Tim Wilson MP, Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said, ‘Through ARENA, we support projects that demonstrate how renewables can reliably provide electricity to critical sectors while reducing costs and emissions.’

Renewable energy initiatives for Western Australian mining operations also include:

Advanced Energy Resources’ Port Gregory wind farm, that will power a garnet mine
Agnew Renewable Energy Microgrid at Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine.