An Australian company plans to deliver its largest solar farm yet – and it’s about to power an unexpected industry

In Australia, solar power has joined forces with gold mining to form an unusual but beneficial partnership.

Pacific Energy, a Perth-based company specializing in off-grid energy, is set to build its largest solar farm to date for the St Ives gold mine in Western Australia, as detailed by Renew Economy . The company has partnered with global mining giant Gold Fields for a special project that will ensure more than 70% of the mine’s energy comes from renewable sources.

The collaboration is part of Gold Fields’ A$296 million (around $188 million as of December) St Ives Renewables project, which includes a 35 megawatt (MW) solar farm and 42 MW of power wind turbine. In addition to using more renewable energy, the project aims to halve carbon pollution from the mining site by 2030.

If you were to install solar panels in your home, which of these factors would be your main motivation?

Energy independence

Reduce electricity bills

Help the planet

No chance that I will ever go solar

Click on your choice to see the results and express your opinion

Once completed, the additional renewable energy capacity will make the solar farm the largest hybrid investment in Pacific Energy’s portfolio and “Australia’s largest island hybrid electricity system”, according to One Step Off the Grid.

Pacific Energy is also involved in other renewable energy projects in Western Australia, such as supplying hybrid solar, battery and gas systems for Westgold’s gold mines, as reported by Renew Economy. These efforts help make renewable energy more accessible to industries with high energy demand.

For Gold Fields, the St Ives project marks a major milestone in its efforts to reduce carbon pollution, with six of its 10 mines already partially powered by renewable energy. In fact, adding additional solar and wind power will reduce diesel and gas consumption at the mine by 96% and 50%, respectively, according to the Renew Economy report.

Overall, the collaboration between these unexpected partners will certainly reduce pollution, and residents living quite close to the mine could also hope for lower energy costs.

“Gold Fields is taking firm action to significantly reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, and we are committed to helping them get there,” Jamie Cullen, head of Pacific Energy, said in a statement. “A key lesson we have learned over the years is that design must be flexible and account for the rapid changes we are seeing in the transition to renewable energy.”

“Gold Fields is committed to sourcing locally where possible and we are proud to support Australian businesses,” said Gold Fields Principal Specialist and Project Director Simon Schmid. “Just like Pacific Energy, Gold Fields is putting its words into action and raising the bar for energy decarbonization.”

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improve our lives And shape our futureand don’t miss this cool list of simple ways to help yourself while helping the planet.