Pacific Energy’s 61MW renewable power system expansion at the Tropicana gold mine is advancing, with the project hitting its first major milestones.
Pacific Energy is integrating 24MW of wind power, 24MW of solar power, and a 13MW BESS (battery energy storage system) into the existing 54MW high-efficiency gas power station as a part of its ten-year build-own-operate agreement with the mine’s owners.
The first significant project milestones include the completion of construction on the wind turbine footings, delivery of wind turbine components to site, and stage one energisation, which involved the energisation of two 33MVA transformers and switchroom.
Pacific Energy said that once completed, the 115MW power station will be the largest hybrid investment in its portfolio, and the largest islanded hybrid power system in Australia.
The company is now focusing on its next critical milestones, including energisation of its BESS and solar farm in the coming weeks.
Pacific Energy’s system will integrate its intelligent control system to optimise input from the high penetration renewables and storage technologies, which will enable the system to run hydrocarbons-free for extended periods of time.
The company said that it is also expected to reduce Tropicana’s diesel and gas consumption for power generation by 96 per cent and 50 per cent respectively, reducing carbon emissions by an average of 65,000t per annum over the life of the agreement.
The project is due for completion in the first quarter of 2025.
Featured image: Construction stage of the wind turbine footings. Image credit: Pacific Energy.
