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

American Feed Industry commends vital supply chain legislation

The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) has commended Representatives Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa-02... Read more

NGFA says NASS reports are critical to agribusiness operations

In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA... Read more

Bauxite and aluminium businesses deliver stable Rio Tinto results

Bauxite production of 13.4 million tonnes was 11% higher than the first quarter of 2023 for Rio Tinto... Read more

Rio Tinto spends more than A$16.1 billion with Australian suppliers

Rio Tinto increased its spend with suppliers and local businesses in Australia to more than A$16.1 billion... Read more

Cargill increases its renewable energy capacity by more than 40%

Cargill has reported increasing its contracted renewable energy capacity by 42% after signing five new... Read more

Agreement to set up KEZAD steel recycling and production facility

The UAE’s largest operator of integrated and purpose-built economic zones, Khalifa Economic Zones... Read more

Senate legislation includes phosphate and potash as critical minerals

The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) has praised the U.S. Senate for introducing bipartisan legislation to... Read more

Agribusiness expert’s legacy and optimism for GrainCorp’s future

Farmer, Company Director and long-standing member of the GrainCorp Board of Directors, Dan Mangelsdorf... Read more

Research offers Rotterdam guidelines for raw material transition

Different product processes, non-fossil raw materials and rare materials are crucial for a CO2-neutral... Read more

Bunge Chevron Ag Renewables to build Louisiana processing plant

Bunge and Chevron have announced approval of a final investment decision for their joint venture Bunge... Read more