BHP Signs Renewable PPA with Neoen for Olympic Dam
Strategic Research Institute
Published on :
8 Nov, 2022, 4:30 am
Australian mining giant BHP has signed a renewable Power Purchase Agreement with Neoen, which is expected to meet half of Olympic Dam’s electricity needs from FY2026, based on current forecast demand, and allow Olympic Dam to record a net zero emission position for the contracted volume of supply.
The PPA is expected to supply 70 megawatts of electricity to Olympic Dam and will support Neoen to construct the 203MW Goyder South Stage 1b Wind Farm, assuming all relevant consents are obtained. This wind farm is to form part of the larger Goyder Renewables Zone in South Australia, and will introduce new renewable generation into the South Australian electricity grid.
In addition, Neoen will construct a large-scale battery energy storage system in Blyth, South Australia to support the PPA, which will also assist in improving the stability of the South Australian electricity grid.
This latest agreement follows commitments BHP has made in recent years, which have seen renewable electricity contribute to powering BHP facilities in Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and Chile.
Neoen is one of the world’s leading independent producers of exclusively renewable energy. Neoen has close to 5.6 GW of solar, wind and storage capacity in operation or under construction across numerous countries, including Australia, Finland and France. Neoen has two of the world’s largest lithium-ion batteries: Hornsdale Power Reserve (150 MW / 193.5 MWh) near Jamestown, South Australia and the Victorian Big Battery (300 MW / 450 MWh) near Geelong, Victoria.
Goyder South Stage 1, consisting of Goyder South 1a and 1b, is the first stage of Neoen’s flagship project known as Goyder Renewables Zone - a hybrid wind, solar and storage project located in mid-north South Australia. Goyder South has development approval for a total of 1200 MW of wind generation, 600 MW of solar generation and 900 MW of battery storage capacity - making it South Australia’s largest renewable project.