Gold Mine Completes Largest Off-Grid Hybrid Power System, Shuts Down Gas and Diesel
A newly established 115MW hybrid power system at a significant gold mine in Western Australia has successfully tested its hydrocarbons off (HOFF) functionality, demonstrating that the mine’s total energy requirements can be met entirely through wind and solar power.
This innovative hybrid power system, completed earlier this year by Pacific Energy, is situated at the Tropicana gold mine, located 330 kilometres northeast of Kalgoorlie. The mine is a joint venture between AngloGold Ashanti and Regis Resources.
Components of the Hybrid System
The hybrid setup integrates four 6MW wind turbines, a 24MW solar farm, and a 13MW, 4MWh battery energy storage system, alongside 54MW of gas generation capacity. It is touted as the largest off-grid hybrid power system within the Australian resources sector.
Significantly, the renewable energy elements of this hybrid system are sufficiently robust to independently power the entire mine.
Successful Testing and Achievements
In a recent update shared on the company’s LinkedIn page, Pacific Energy reported that it has successfully conducted tests involving “five fully autonomous transitions in and out of hydrocarbons off (HOFF) functionality over a 72-hour period.”
During these transitions, the mine, which has one of the highest energy demands in the state, was powered solely by wind and solar energy, supported by the battery system that adeptly managed a “6MW load step scenario autonomously and with ease.”
Pacific Energy also highlighted that the mine was powered exclusively by the 24MW wind farm during the night, marking “an exciting milestone for a load of this size.”
“The insights gained from our HOFF testing at Tropicana are instrumental in refining our advanced control system technology, enabling us to expand the possibilities for both our current systems and those in development,” Pacific Energy stated.
