Aggreko is expanding the renewable energy and battery storage capacity at Gold Fields' Granny Smith gold mine in Western Australia, marking a key development in the site's decarbonization efforts. This expansion includes increasing the solar farm's capacity to 19 MW and enhancing the battery energy storage system (BESS) to 9 MW/4.5 MWh.

The initiative aims to lower the carbon intensity of the mine while reducing overall power costs. Since starting its collaboration with Gold Fields in 2016, Aggreko has been instrumental in transitioning the mine's power system from diesel to a more sustainable energy mix that includes gas, solar, and battery storage. The mine's renewable energy fraction will reach 21%, saving approximately 443,304 gigajoules of gas and reducing CO2 emissions by 22,843 tonnes annually.

George Whyte, Aggreko's APAC managing director, emphasized the company's commitment to decarbonization and efficiency. He highlighted the importance of supporting the mine's energy needs throughout its operational life, while contributing to broader regional sustainability goals.

This expansion precedes a pre-feasibility study by Gold Fields to explore increasing renewable energy use at Granny Smith to 75%, potentially incorporating wind power in the future.

Mark Glazebrook, general manager of the Granny Smith mine, celebrated the project as a key milestone in the site's commitment to ESG goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Sources: mining.com