Aussie mine to be powered by 100-pct renewable energy

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SYDNEY, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- An iron ore operation in Western Australia’s remote Pilbara region is set to become the nation’s first mine site powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

Announcing 24.2 million Australian (16.5 million U.S.) dollars in funding for the groundbreaking power scheme on Friday, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) said Alinta Energy will develop the Solar Gas Hybrid project which will power Fortescue Metals Group’s Chichester mining hub.

“Through projects such as this, ARENA is helping industry to reduce emissions,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.

“The mining sector in Australia which is vital to our economy accounts for approximately 10 percent of our energy use, so it is hoped these projects will encourage more mining operations to look to renewable energy and low emission solutions.”

As part of Alinta's project, 60 km of new transmission lines will link Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mines with a new solar farm that’s powered by a 60MW photovoltaic system.

Set to cut the use of around 100 million liters of diesel per year, the development will also see transmission lines connected to the existing 145MW gas-fired Newman Power Station and its battery storage system.

According to Miller, this will allow 100 percent of daytime energy requirements for the Chichester iron ore mining operations to be powered by renewable energy, with the remaining power requirements to be balanced with gas generation.

“Alinta's project will demonstrate how renewable energy solutions can deliver critical energy requirements for major mining operations and help reduce emissions,” he said.

“This will also show how interconnection of loads and different generation and storage, including solar, battery storage and gas, can provide secure and reliable electricity.”

Investing around 366 million Australian (250 million U.S.) dollars to make the project a reality, Fortescue Metals’ CEO, Elizabeth Gaines said the innovative move will help the company remain globally competitive.

“This landmark project is a first on this scale for the Pilbara and will reduce carbon emissions from stationary generation by around 40 percent at Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mining operations, while driving long-term sustainable cost reductions to maintain Fortescue’s global cost leadership position,” she said.

Construction is expected to be completed by mid 2021, with works to begin before the end of this year. Enditem

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