BHP and TransAlta partner for solar and battery storage facility

A new solar farm in the Northern Goldfields has been switched online thanks to a partnership between BHP (ASX:BHP) and renewable energy provider TransAlta.

This partnership will help BHP reduce scope two emissions at its Nickel West northern operations by 12%.

TransAlta president and chief executive John Kousinioris says the company is excited to flick the switch on a ground-breaking project.

“This facility represents a first for both companies — it’s BHP’s first on-site, large-scale renewable project globally, and it’s TransAlta’s first renewable energy facility in Australia. It’s also the first time we have combined solar and battery storage to offer a hybrid solution,” he said.

“This unique project enabled us to apply the extensive capability and technical knowledge we have to the development of a large-scale facility in a remote part of WA.”

One of the world’s largest off-grid mining solar and battery energy storage systems, the Northern Goldfields solar and battery storage facility features about 70,000 solar panels across 90ha of land.

The initiative, which will replace power currently generated from diesel and gas, will mark a significant step towards BHP’s plans to decarbonise its operations by 30% by FY30.

It includes a 27.4MW solar farm at Mt Keith plus a 10.7MW solar farm and 10.1MW battery at Leinster which is integrated into TransAlta’s Northern Goldfields remote power grid.

Construction of the facility began in 2022 and created more than 100 direct and indirect jobs in both the Perth and Goldfields regions.

BHP Australia president Geraldine Slattery says the facility marks a significant step in delivering the company’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.

“Renewables are increasingly powering BHP operations around the globe and this facility — the first we have built on one of our sites — is another step forward in our plans to reduce our operational greenhouse gas emissions by at least 30% by FY30, from FY20 levels,” she said.

“Nickel is in high demand for batteries and electric vehicles, and this progress is part of our commitment to delivering more sustainable, lower carbon product to our customers.”