The 95MW Kathleen Valley Hybrid Power System has been officially opened by Western Australian Minister for Energy, Reece Whitby.
Mr Whitby toured the integrated solar farm, wind farm, battery and firming LNG power plant that together enable Liontown Resources to operate with a minimum 60 per cent emissions-free energy at its Goldfields hard rock lithium mine.
The power system is designed to operate in “engine off” mode when wind and solar resources are available, enabling Liontown to continuously operate from 100 per cent renewable energy during those periods.
The system was designed, funded, built, owned and operated by Western Australian-based independent power producer (IPP) Zenith Energy.
The largest operating off-grid power system in Australia, the 95MW Kathleen Valley Hybrid Power System incorporates the nation’s largest off-grid wind farm utilising the largest land-based wind turbines in the country.
Zenith Energy said that the system showcases the ability of renewables to deliver reliable, continuous supply to support an entire mining operation.
Its capacity is the equivalent of powering more than 18,000 Western Australian homes.
Mr Whitby said the project was a great example of how industry is helping decarbonise Western Australia.
“By using renewable energy to power its lithium mining, Liontown Resources and Zenith Energy are showcasing what Western Australia’s future as a clean energy superpower will look like.
“This complements the Western Australian Government’s $5.4 billion investment in transmission, onshore wind, and battery storage, which is helping lower household and industry emissions.”
Zenith Energy CEO, Hamish Moffat, said the multi-award-winning hybrid system illustrated the vision for the energy transition.
“Australia’s mining sector, the Federal and West Australian governments all have ambitious decarbonisation goals, which this hybrid system solution enables.
“Liontown set out with a clear goal from the start at Kathleen Valley – to operate with the lowest possible carbon footprint – and Zenith Energy is proud to be providing a market-leading solution and its strategic energy partner for this landmark project,” Mr Moffat said.
“Not only does the Kathleen Valley hybrid power system show the way forward as a world-class project, but it also demonstrates how decarbonisation of the mining sector can be achieved through joint effort and shared success.”
Mr Moffat said that the integrated renewable energy solution demonstrates Zenith Energy’s leadership in the energy transition and the glide path for mining operations to achieve net zero.
“It is a credit to everyone involved that Kathleen Valley not only set a new benchmark in the energy transition for Australia’s off-grid mining sector, but that it has also catalysed power purchase agreements for multiple other similar high fraction renewable energy hybrid power systems in the sector,” Mr Moffat said.
Liontown Resources Managing Director and CEO, Tony Ottaviano, said Zenith Energy had a strong technical understanding of the challenges and need for close collaboration.
“Zenith Energy worked hand in hand with the Liontown technical team to achieve our goals, was competitively priced and willing to back the outcome commercially,” Mr Ottaviano said.
The official opening at Kathleen Valley also marked another IPP first in Australia – a formal engagement agreement with Traditional Owners.
The engagement agreement between Zenith Energy and Native Title determined owners Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation, through its subsidiary Tjiwarl Contracting Services, was enabled by Liontown’s requirement for Traditional Owner involvement on all major contracts at Kathleen Valley.
Zenith Energy said that a key outcome of the engagement agreement has been the formation of a Tjiwarl 80 per cent majority-owned joint venture called Tjiwarl Katu Power to provide power-related services at Kathleen Valley and Zenith Energy’s other power stations on Tjiwarl Country.
Tjiwarl Director and Native Title holder, Kado Muir, said the immediate drive for the joint venture was to transition operations and maintenance activities at the power station to Tjiwarl Katu Power.
“To this end, Tjiwarl Katu Power is in the process of establishing its operational resources to start servicing the power station this year,” Mr Muir said.
“This agreement with Tjiwarl people, supported by Liontown, is a leading case study for how Zenith Energy is paving the way for First Nations people to get involved in renewable energy transition projects with equity participation that leads to addressing socio-economic disadvantage.”
Mr Ottaviano said the efficiency with which the power station had been constructed and commissioned was testament to what could be achieved when Traditional Owners, mine operators, specialist contractors and a power provider work together towards a common goal.
Zenith Energy said that beyond the Kathleen Valley project, the next energy transition milestone is already underway at Bellevue Gold, where the company is delivering Australia’s highest renewable energy fraction off-grid power system to provide a minimum 80 per cent emissions free energy solution.
Zenith Energy has also carried out renewable energy retrofits at IGO’s Nova Operations, Northern Star Resources’ Jundee operations, and recently commenced work on a renewable energy hybrid solution for Lynas’ Rare Earths’ Mt Weld Operations.
