By Mike Stone
The mining sector could be an important driver of energy storage in Australia, say experts.
Sandfire Resources is one mining company set to benefit from the trend. Sandfire was approached by Juwi Renewable Energy to develop and operate a 10.6-megawatt solar facility at its DeGrussa copper mine in Western Australia that will be going live in March next year. The solar project will be paired with a 6-megawatt/1.5-megawatt-hour lithium-ion battery, with a total cost of about USD$30 million.
Mike Spreadborough, CEO of Sandfire Resources, says the solar-plus-storage system will save his company’s mine 30 percent on fuel costs immediately, “and more in the future.”
Read more at Green Tech Media