Sandfire Resources, a Western Australian gold and copper miner, is set to build one of the largest off-grid solar-PV plants at its DeGrussa mine near Wiluna in the far north Goldfields of Western Australia.
The project will integrate a 10.6MW solar array and 6MW of battery storage with the existing 20MW diesel generator, with the aim of replace 20% of the current diesel consumption.
The project is set to cost AU$40 million with Sandfire providing a contribution of AU$1 million for the construction of 34,000 solar panels. The plant will be built, owned and operated by juwi Renewable Energy.
Andrew Drager, managing director of juwi Australia, said there were at least 10 other mines in Australia looking at a solar and storage option to help deflect high diesel prices.