Australia’s well-known grid congestion issues and associated federal government negligence dominate the headlines, but in the smaller-scale, microgrid, and off-grid frontiers of the renewable energy transition, there is a new solution-oriented approach. And as Aggreko and Gold Fields have demonstrated, it is paving a solar-panel-bricked-road to a renewably powered resource sector.
pv magazine Australia: Aggreko and Gold Fields are nearing completion on what is certainly one of Australia’s largest hybridized solar energy microgridsat the Granny Smith gold mine in Western Australia. Just how large is this hybrid power system and how is it integrating with the mine’s existing gas fired power station?
Karim Wazni: This is one of the world’s largest renewable energy microgrids. The system itself comprises more than 23,000 individual solar PV panels, offering 7.7 MWp of solar power generation. The PV elements of the solution will be seamlessly integrated with the existing 27.3 MW power station, which utilises high-efficiency, reciprocating gas fuelled engines. This is all supported by a 2 MW/1 MWh battery system which delivers peak power and helps providing consistency and reliability of power supply for the mine. This new system will be seamlessly integrated with the existing power station via the use of Aggreko’s control software platform.
pv magazine Australia: The mining industry is a big consumer of energy, and thus a big producer of emissions (6.2% of global emissions). However, the mining industry worldwide is beginning to realize that energizing its operations with renewables is simply a good investment. What role can Aggreko specifically, but also microgrids and energy storage generally, perform in transitioning the mining industry to clean energy?
Wazni: We see our role as a partner for mine operators to support them on their journey to a decarbonized future. As a provider of temporary power solutions and energy services, Aggreko’s offering, especially our hybrid power plants, we support those with green ambitions. We are experts in combining the reliability of thermal generation with all the benefits that come with new technologies like solar power and battery storage systems, including greater efficiency, lower costs of energy and of course lower emissions.
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