Solar panels to reduce emissions at BHP Nickel West

(Posted on 25/07/22)

The first solar panels have started being installed this week at BHP’s massive solar farm at Leinster Nickel Operation in the Northern Goldfields.

By the end of 2022, over 20,000 solar panels will be installed at this site alone, helping to power BHP Nickel West’s mining and concentrating operations at Leinster. At Mt Keith Operation there are even more - with over 51,000 solar panels going in.

The Northern Goldfields Solar Project, to be constructed and owned by one of BHP Nickel West’s renewable energy partners TransAlta, includes a 27.4 MW solar farm at Mt Keith Nickel Operation and a 10.7 MW solar farm and 10.1 MW battery at Leinster Nickel Operation, which will be integrated into TransAlta’s Northern Goldfields remote power grid.

The project, which will replace power currently supplied by diesel and gas, will help BHP Nickel West reduce Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions at its Mt Keith and Leinster operations by 12 per cent resulting in an estimated reduction of 54,000 tonnes CO2-e per annum.

The construction phase of the solar project has created more than 100 direct and indirect jobs in the Goldfields and Perth regions and is expected to produce its first solar power by the end of 2022.

BHP Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell said BHP was meeting its commitment to deliver sustainable low carbon nickel to its customers, a product that is in high demand to power batteries and electric vehicles.

“The Northern Goldfields Solar Project is BHP’s first off-grid large-scale renewable energy project across our global operations and, significantly, will remove the equivalent of up to 23,000 combustion engine cars [2] from the road every year, supporting our greenhouse gas reduction targets,” Ms Farrell said.

TransAlta is also working with BHP Nickel West to identify potential wind sites for a 40 to 50MW wind farm, which would connect to TransAlta’s northern grid and reduce Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions at BHP’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations.  

Adding wind will increase renewable energy supply to support BHP’s growth and further each company’s sustainability goals. 

Latest News

Metso expansion in Antofagasta elevates support for Chilean mining

Metso has completed the expansion of its service centre in Antofagasta, Chile, reinforcing its ability... Read more

Alcoa explores feasibility of gallium critical mineral production in WA

Alcoa of Australia Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcoa Corporation has announced a Joint Development... Read more

Rio Tinto releases new tailings facilities disclosure

Rio Tinto has published detailed information on its global tailings facilities, in alignment with the... Read more

NGFA applauds Senate confirmation of Lindberg as USDA trade undersecretary

 The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has commended the U.S. Senate for confirming Luke... Read more

Cargill to acquire Mig-Plus, expanding animal nutrition business in Brazil

Cargill, one of the world’s leading food providers, continues to advance its growth strategy in... Read more

Resilient financial results as Rio Tinto grows and diversifies

Rio Tinto has announced a 6% production year-on-year uplift, thereby delivering on strategy through... Read more

K-SURE and Trafigura $200m financing agreement to support Korean shipping

The Korea Trade Insurance Corporation (K-SURE) and Trafigura, a global leader in the commodities industry... Read more

BHP record copper and iron ore production drives strong 2025 performance

BHP have released their Operational Review for the year ended 30 June 2025.BHP Chief Executive Officer... Read more

Dynamic Mining shipping arm and GeoServe’s one-year milestone

A strategic collaboration between Icon Gulf Trading DMCC (part of the Dynamic Group) and GeoServe Energy... Read more

SSAB and Metal Solutions start partnership in fossil-free steel

SSAB and Metal Solutions have entered a long-term partnership for the supply of decarbonized steel with... Read more