Mining giant BHP has begun installing 10MW solar panels to power its nickel mining operation in Western Australia’s northern Goldfields region, along with batteries and wind turbines, the Institute to Energy Economics and Financial Analysis reported.
The 10.7 MW solar panels power center and 10.1 MW battery at the Leinster site are part of the BHP Nickel West Northern Goldfields Solar project being developed by TransAlta as part of its remote power grid, along with a larger 27.4 MW solar power center at BHP Mt Keith operations.
This is BHP’s first large-scale off-grid renewable energy project. It aims to reduce the mining company’s greenhouse gas emissions from its North Goldfields mines by 12% by replacing diesel and gas power with solar and battery power.
The addition of the wind farm is estimated to reduce the company’s emissions at Mount Kit and Leinster by another 30%.
BHP highlights that the construction of the solar power center comes at a time when global demand for environmentally friendly, low-carbon nickel is skyrocketing as a critical component in battery and electric vehicle manufacturing.
The new Australian government has increased the targets for reducing carbon emissions on the continent by 2030 to 43% from 26-28% promised by the previous authorities. The country’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, vowed to make it a “green” superpower. At the same time, the country is experiencing an energy crisis.