Remote Mine in Australia Pioneers Off-Grid Wind, Solar Power
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An isolated gold mine in Western Australia plans to become the first in the country to get its power from combined wind and solar generation on site, as projects increasingly look to co-locate the two technologies as a way to overcome intermittent renewable power.
Stage one of the hybrid renewable project at Gold Fields Ltd.’s Agnew mine, located nearly 645 kilometers (400 miles) northeast of Perth, was officially opened Wednesday, comprising an off-grid gas power station backed by diesel and solar generation. In the second stage, due to be completed in 2020, five wind turbines and battery storage will be added, to provide the mine with over 50% renewable energy.