BHP's Northern Goldfields solar facility goes live

BHP has announced it has commissioned a new solar farm in the Northern Goldfields that it says will help it reduce Scope 2 emissions at its Nickel West northern operations by 12%.

Built in collaboration with renewable energy provider TransAlta, the Northern Goldfields Solar and Battery Storage Facility is said to be one of the world’s largest off-grid mining solar and battery energy storage systems and features about 70,000 solar panels across 90 hectares of land.

The initiative, which will replace power currently generated from diesel and gas, will be a significant step towards BHP’s aim to decarbonise its operations by 30% by FY2030.

It includes a 27.4 MW solar farm at Mt Keith, and a 10.7 MW solar farm and 10.1 MW battery at Leinster, which is integrated into TransAlta’s Northern Goldfields remote power grid.

BHP Australia President Geraldine Slattery said the facility was a significant step in delivering BHP’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets and helps it achieve its goal of being one of the most sustainable nickel providers in the world.

“Renewables are increasingly powering BHP operations around the globe and this facility — the first we have built on one of our sites — is another step forward in our plans to reduce our operational greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by FY30, from FY20 levels,” she said. “Nickel is in high demand for batteries and electric vehicles, and this progress is part of our commitment to delivering more sustainable, lower carbon product to our customers.”

“The initiative … will result in an estimated reduction of 54,000 tonnes of CO2-e per annum — the equivalent of removing 23,000 combustion engine cars from the road each year,” said BHP Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell.

TransAlta’s President and Chief Executive Officer, John Kousinioris, said the company was excited to flick the switch on what was a groundbreaking project for the organisation.

“We are excited to work together with BHP to realise this innovative solution to meet BHP’s renewable electricity needs. This facility represents a first for both companies — it’s BHP’s first on-site, large-scale renewable project globally, and it’s TransAlta’s first renewable energy facility in Australia. It’s also the first time we have combined solar and battery storage to offer a hybrid solution,” he said.

Image: BHP