Sian Crampsie
Global energy firm EDL has completed the 56 MW Agnew hybrid renewable energy plant in Western Australia.
The hybrid project comprises wind energy capacity, a solar photovoltaic (PV) field, a battery storage system and an off-grid gas/diesel plant, and is “up and running” at Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine, EDL said.
According to EDL, the project has delivered up to 70 per cent of Agnew’s power requirements with renewable energy. The 18 MW, five-unit wind farm is the first in the country to power a mine, the company added.
EDL chief executive officer James Harman said the company was proud to partner with Gold Fields on the landmark project. “We applaud Gold Fields for their vision in embarking on this journey with us, and their role in leading the Australian mining industry’s transition to clean, reliable renewable energy.
“We also acknowledge the incredible achievement of the EDL project delivery team and our contractors. We faced transport challenges during the bushfires and impacts on personnel from Covid-19 restrictions as well as geographical, logistics and technical challenges to safely construct this innovative energy facility in the remote WA Goldfields region.”
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) provided A$13.5 million in funding to the project as part of its Advancing Renewables Programme.
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