Remote energy specialist Pacific Energy has commissioned a 24 MW solar farm and a 13 MW battery energy storage system (BESS) at the Tropicana gold mine power station in Western Australia.
The mine is jointly owned by AngloGold Ashanti Australia and Regis Resources Ltd.
Part of the Tropicana renewables expansion project, these installations are transforming the existing gas-powered station into an off-grid hybrid system.
The final phase of this project includes installing and commissioning four 6 MW wind turbines. This integration aims to significantly reduce Tropicana’s reliance on fossil fuels, lowering diesel consumption for power generation by 96% and gas consumption by 50%.
According to Vicky Scobie, AngloGold Ashanti’s Energy and Decarbonisation spokesperson, the renewable energy setup at Tropicana is expected to cut carbon emissions by about 65,000 tonnes per year. Scobie added:
“AngloGold is committed to net zero by 2050, and as part of that we have a roadmap towards net zero, which includes reducing our emissions by 30% from our 2021 baseline by 2030. Renewables are a significant step to actually achieving that 30% reduction.”
Pacific Energy developed an intelligent control system for the facility, designed to optimize the use of high-penetration renewable energy and storage technologies, allowing for extended periods of hydrocarbons-free operation.
