In a statement, the firm noted that the hybrid system integrates solar photovoltaic (PV) with gas and diesel generation, to power Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine, in Western Australia.

“We have successfully completed the first stage of the development of one of Australia’s largest hybrid renewable microgrid projects,” said Dave Manning, global head of Hybrid for juwi Renewable Energy.

Stage one included a 4 MW Single Axis Tracking PV installation together with cloud forecasting and an advanced microgrid control system to enable integration with the mine off-grid network.

The power station integrates 4 MW solar generation from the solar farm and is underpinned by 19 MW of gas and diesel generation. It will soon include other renewable energy technologies coming online in the next stage of the project.

The second stage of the project, which includes 18 MW of wind generation, a 13 MW battery and an advanced microgrid control system, is currently under construction and due to be completed in mid-2020.

EDL CEO, James Harman, said: “With this project, EDL and Gold Fields are leading the way towards clean, renewable energy to power remote, off-grid mining operations without compromising reliability or power quality.”

Valued at AUS$112 million ($76 million), the project has significant implications for hybrid deployment in the mining industry.

“Hybrid technology is proving to be an intelligent and efficient solution towards securing energy security, optimising energy costs and reducing carbon footprint,” said Manning.

The project has the backing of the Australian Renewable Energy Agency with a recoupable AUS$13.5 million contribution to the construction cost of the project.

Once completed, the Agnew Hybrid Renewable project will be the first to use wind generation as part of a large hybrid micro-grid in the Australian mining sector.

It will have a total installed generation capacity of 54 MW, with renewables providing over 50 per cent of the Agnew gold mine’s power requirements, with the potential to increase this further by adopting innovative operational practices such as the dynamic load shedding, renewables forecasting and load control management.