Bellevue Gold Mine Achieves 155 Hours on 100% Renewables
The Bellevue Gold Mine, located in a remote area of Western Australia, has set a remarkable new benchmark by operating for 155 consecutive hours on 100% renewable energy, with all engines turned off.
This facility, which has an average demand of about 12 megawatts (MW), has consistently exceeded its target of over 80% for renewable energy usage, frequently attaining levels in the 90% range each month. Notably, it recorded an impressive average of 93.8% renewable energy integration during March.
Impressive Renewable Energy Sources
Earlier in May, the mine sustained operation for more than six and a half days solely on renewable resources, harnessing energy from 27 MW of solar panels, 24 MW of wind turbines, and a 15 MW battery system capable of storing 33 MWh of excess energy for later use in the micro-grid.
A spokesperson for Zenith Energy, the company responsible for constructing this hybrid power station, remarked on LinkedIn, “This is a significant milestone, not only for the project but for the potential within the Australian energy sector, showcasing leading progress in renewable energy for remote mining sites.” They further stated that the system is designed to fulfil at least 80% of the site’s energy requirements from renewable sources, emphasizing that such achievements are especially feasible under optimal weather conditions.
Achievements in Sustainability
The Bellevue Gold Mine has already declared itself as the world’s first net-zero emissions gold mine (considering scope 1 and scope 2 emissions). While some of its emissions reductions stem from offsets, the mine has yet to decarbonise its mining equipment and transport logistics. In contrast, Fortescue aims for a complete decarbonisation of its larger iron ore operations in the Pilbara by 2030, where the typical energy load reaches 800 MW.
This latest achievement of operating with “engines off” is believed to be a global first for a facility predominantly powered by wind and solar energy, surpassing the efforts of the smaller Kings Island mini-grid near Tasmania, which maintains an average load of roughly 2.5 MW.
Other Miners Surpassing Renewable Targets
Several off-grid mining operations have reported exceptionally high renewable energy shares, often exceeding expectations. For instance, Lynas Gold achieved a remarkable 95.7% renewable energy share during the entirety of the March quarter at its Mt Weld lithium mine.
Similarly, the Kathleen Valley facility run by Liontown Resources has consistently maintained over 80% renewable energy usage monthly, effectively mitigating the impact of rising diesel prices. Notably, both Lynas Gold and Liontown have the backing of Gina Rinehart, widely recognised as Australia’s wealthiest individual, despite her known opposition to renewable energy initiatives.
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