PERTH (miningweekly.com)  - Energy supplier Alinta Energy on Wednesday reported that Western Australia’s largest solar farm has begun production, and would power up to 100% of the daytime operations of iron-ore major Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mines, in the Pilbara.

The solar farm will displace around 100-million litres of diesel every year.

The remaining power requirements from the two mines will be met through battery storage and gas generation at Alinta Energy’s Newman Power Station. 

Alinta Energy’s MD and CEO, Jeff Dimery said the start of operations was a giant leap forward in the race to a low carbon energy future.

“We took an ambitious brief from Fortescue, who wanted to dramatically slash their emissions, and made it a reality in just three years. I can’t understate the engineering challenge of designing and building a renewable solution on this scale, in a harsh environment like the Pilbara, to meet the reliability standards of mines like these.

“I’m very proud of the team, our partners and customer Fortescue, our lead contractor Downer and their subcontractors and suppliers, North Australian Infrastrucutre Fund (NAIF), Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the pastoralist Roy Hill Station and in particular the Nyiyaparli People on whose Country the solar farm sits.

“I want to thank those who spent unexpectedly long periods away from their families due to Covid restrictions to keep the project moving forward.

“Together, we’ve built a benchmark renewable project with an ambitious partner, and given the abundance of high quality renewables resources in the Pilbara we look forward to supporting others to do the same,” said Dimery.

Fortescue CEO Elizabeth Gaines said the completion of this project is a practical example of Fortescue delivering on its ambitious carbon neutrality target and demonstrates that renewables can power the energy needs of Australia’s mining and resources sector. 

“As Fortescue transitions from a pure play iron ore producer to a green energy and resources company, this milestone is a critical part of our Pilbara Energy Connect project which together with the Chichester solar farm will see 25% of Fortescue’s stationary energy powered by solar,” Gaines said.

The project also includes the construction of approximately 60 km of new transmission lines, linking Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mines to the solar farm and Alinta Energy’s existing energy generation infrastructure in Newman.

The project received A$24.2-million in funding from ARENA and the NAIF also supported the project with a loan of up to A$90-million.

Assistant Minister to the Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Tim Wilson said the project will cut down emissions by integrating renewable energy into mining processes. 

“The government will continue to support a low-carbon energy future and advance low emissions technologies for Australia’s mining industry,” Wilson said. 

“Through ARENA, we support projects that demonstrate how renewables can reliably provide electricity to critical sectors while reducing costs and emissions.

“These renewable energy projects include Advanced Energy Resources’ Port Gregory wind farm that will power a garnet mine and the Agnew Renewable Energy Microgrid at Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine.”

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said that the start of operations at the solar farm was a monumental step forward to see solar and battery storage help to displace diesel on mining sites.

“Optimising the transition to renewable electricity has been a key priority for ARENA and we are excited to see the Alinta Energy and Fortescue project now successfully using solar energy for the day-to-day operations of the mines.”

NAIF Acting CEO Amanda Copping said the commencement of operations at the solar farm is a major boost towards a low carbon energy future.

“NAIF was an early supporter of the project and we congratulate all the parties on building a benchmark renewable project in the Pilbara. The project is an example of what can be achieved when business partners with government and financing agencies. We are delighted to see another NAIF supported project become operational,” she added.