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Construction of the microgrid has started, and the project has the full
backing of the Australian government with the Australian Renewable
Energy Agency (ARENA) contributing a recoupable AUD13.5-million to
its construction. The Agnew microgrid is initially forecast to provide 55 –
60% of the mine’s energy needs, with potential to meet almost all energy
requirements at certain times.
The Agnew microgrid will consist of:
• Five wind turbines which will deliver 18MW of power;
• A 10 000-panel solar farm contributing 4MW;
• A 13MW / 4MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS);
• A 16MW gas engine power station to underpin supply when required.
Gold Field’s Australia executive vice-president Stuart Mathews says the
Agnew hybrid microgrid project reflects the company’s strategic objective
to strengthen energy security, optimise energy costs and reduce its carbon
footprint through innovation and the adoption of new technologies.
The hybrid microgrid at Agnew follows the announcement of a microgrid
at Gold Fields’ Granny Smith mine, featuring 20 000 solar panels and a 2MW
/1MWh battery system planned for completion in quarter four of 2019.
Gold Fields is the third largest gold producer in Australia. It currently owns
and operates three mines in Western Australia and is completing the
construction of a fourth, Gruyere, in joint venture with Gold Road Resources.
AUSTRALIA:
BIGGER FLEET TO MAINTAIN ROM
Stanmore Coal and NRW Holdings are set to maintain run-of-mine (ROM)
coal volumes from the Isaac Plains East mine at Moranbah, Queensland,
Australia, with the addition of a third truck and excavator fleet.
NRW subsidiary Golding Contractors will increase Isaac Plains East’s
overburden removal capacity toward production volumes of about three
million ROM tonnes a year.
Golding will launch the third fleet in August by supplying an additional
Hitachi EX3600 excavator, five EH3500 Hitachi trucks and the remainder
of the ancillary fleet, the majority of which will be mobilised from the
Middlemount coal project.
Gold Fields has invested in a hybrid microgrid for its Agnew mine in
Australia.
www. africanmining.co.za
African Mining Publication
NRW will also replace the five EH3500 trucks with five EH4000 Hitachi trucks
as they become available from Middlemount.
African Mining
African Mining September 2019
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