Project Background
The King of the Hills underground gold mine is 100% owned by Vault Minerals and is located 28km north of the town of Leonora in the Eastern Goldfields region of The King of the Hills (KOTH) underground gold mine, 100% owned by Vault Minerals, is located approximately 28 km north of Leonora in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields region.
Zenith Energy has been supplying power to the operation since March 2022 under an initial 10-year Power Purchase Agreement. The original hybrid power solution combined gas generation, solar PV and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide reliable and flexible power to the mine and processing facilities.
The power station was designed with future expansion and renewable integration in mind. Zenith is progressively expanding the facility to support Vault Minerals’ plant expansion at Leonora. The current expansion program is being delivered in two stages:
Stage 1 added 2 × Jenbacher 620 engines, providing an additional 6.7 MW of generation capacity.
Stage 2 adds 3 × Jenbacher 624 engines, providing a further 13.5 MW of capacity.
Following the expansion, Zenith’s current project information lists the KOTH power station at 51.2 MW of capacity, incorporating gas generation, solar PV and BESS.
The station also incorporates Zenith’s approach to renewable integration, with the system designed to accommodate additional renewable generation as the operation evolves. The original project was also the first Zenith site to use the 5B Maverick modular solar solution.
“We are pleased to have signed the Power Purchase Agreement with Zenith Energy, an experienced power producer which provided us with a compelling hybrid thermal and sustainable power solution that includes renewable energy. “Zenith Energy’s combination of a gas and solar power station, supported by a Battery Energy Storage System, provides the efficiency and stability required for the processing plant and infrastructure to enable King of the Hills to be a long – life, low-cost gold produce”
– Red 5 Limited Ex Managing Director, Mark Williams