Gold Fields marks milestones as its Agnew renewables plant starts operating

20th November 2019

By: Marleny Arnoldi

Deputy Editor Online

     

Font size: - +

The 23 MW renewable energy power station built at JSE-listed Gold Fields’ Agnew mine, in Australia, has started operating.

Global distributed energy producer EDL installed the power station that integrates 4 MW of photovoltaic solar power with 19 MW of gas and diesel generation to power the gold mine.

This marked the first stage of the Agnew hybrid renewable project and is one of Australia’s largest hybrid renewable microgrid projects – valued at A$112-million.

The next stage of the project will see other renewable energy technologies, including 18 MW of wind generation, 13 MW of battery storage and an advanced microgrid control system, being added.

Once completed, the Agnew hybrid renewable project will be the first to use wind generation as part of a large hybrid microgrid in the Australian mining sector. The project will have a total installed generation capacity of 54 MW, providing more than 50% of the mine’s power requirements.

“This is a significant milestone for both the Agnew gold mine and the broader Gold Fields group, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to strengthening our energy security, optimising energy costs and reducing our carbon footprint through the adoption of new technologies.

“We are hopeful that this will also enable other companies to consider the options for decarbonising their operations,” Gold Fields Australasia VP Stuart Mathews said in a statement issued on Wednesday.

“The [Western Australian] government, [led by Premier Mark McGowan], is supportive of mining and resources companies that are embracing renewable energy solutions, particularly when it helps reduce their carbon emissions.

“This innovative, Australia-first project is setting the standard for mine sites throughout Western Australia,” said Western Australia Mines and Petroleum, Energy and Industrial Relations Minister Bill Johnston.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The functionality you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION