Wind farm to support BHP’s decarbonisation of Goldfields operations

A wind farm in the Great Southern will help BHP Nickel West reduce scope- two emissions from electricity consumption at its Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Nickel Concentrator in the Goldfields.

An 18-turbine wind farm is being constructed as part of an initial 12-year power purchase agreement between BHP Nickel West and Enel Green Power for 100 per cent of the energy it produces.

Stage one of the Flat Rocks Wind Farm project near Kojonup now has more than half of the 18 wind turbines installed.

Once built, the wind farm will generate about 315,000MWh of renewable energy into the South West Interconnected System which is connected to BHP Nickel West’s Goldfields operations.

BHP said the agreement was expected to reduce Nickel West’s scope-two carbon emissions by about 32 per cent, and its overall emissions by 16.5 per cent, based on FY2020 levels.

BHP Nickel West asset president Jess Farrell recently visited the site with the Enel team to see the project’s progress.

She said about half of Nickel West’s carbon emissions came from electricity consumption, so reducing scope-two emissions was a high priority for the mining giant.

“This is why we are investing in large-scale renewable energy projects like Flat Rocks Wind Farm stage one,” she said.

“Impressively, the wind farm will provide renewable energy for our operations equivalent to the entire annual electricity consumption at the Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda Concentrator each year.”

On the site tour, Ms Farrell said it was fantastic to see the co-existence of renewable power generation and agricultural activities.

“Each turbine reaches 200m tall, but their footprint allows for farming and other activities to continue around them, so it’s really pleasing to see the partnership between local host landholders and Enel Green Power working so well,” she said.

“It’s exciting to see the progress, and I can’t wait to hear the names for the wind turbines, which are being decided by local schools and community groups.”

Installation of the remaining wind turbines will be completed in the coming months, with the project expected to be operational early in early 2024.