The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) last year announced funding for a ground-breaking two-phase project in far north Queensland that will supply renewable energy to Weipa’s bauxite mine, township and port.
ARENA CEO, Ivor Frischknecht, said the collaborative $23.4 million project was a first for Australia and a first for ARENA, and would demonstrate the potential for renewable energy to provide reliable and competitively priced power to remote mining operations.
“ARENA is providing $3.5 million towards the first stage of this solar photovoltaics (PV) project, which will provide 1.7MW off-grid power to the mine, town and port facilities under a 15 year power purchase agreement with Rio Tinto Alcan,” Mr Frischknecht said.