TransAlta Renewables to build Hybrid Solar-Battery Project for BHP Nickel West in Western Australia

Southern Cross Energy, a subsidiary of TransAlta Corporation and an entity owned by TransAlta Renewables Inc., has agreed to provide renewable solar electricity supported with a battery energy storage system (BESS) to the Goldfields-based operations of BHP Nickel West Pty Ltd (BHP) through the construction of the Northern Goldfields Solar Project. 

The Northern Goldfields Solar Project comprises the 27.4 MW Mount Keith Solar Farm, 10.7 MW Leinster Solar Farm, 10.1 MW/5.4MWh Leinster BESS, and interconnecting transmission infrastructure, all of which will be integrated into TransAlta Australia’s 169 MW Southern Cross Energy North remote network in Western Australia. The project is expected to reduce BHP’s Scope 2 electricity greenhouse gas emissions from its Leinster and Mt Keith operations by 540,000 tonnes of CO₂e over the first 10 years of operation.

TransAlta Australia will build, own and operate the Northern Goldfields Solar Project according to an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) agreement with juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd. The total construction capital of the project is estimated at AUD73 million (US$53.68 million). It is the first renewable energy project to be developed under the Power Purchase Agreement recently extended with BHP in October 2020 and will have a term of 16.3 years. The Final Notice to Proceed is expected during the third quarter of 2021.