2minWe are delighted to share some significant progress from our Jundee Solar Farm project, located in the heart of Western Australia’s gold mining region and supported by Northern Star Resources Ltd (Northern Star).
Firstly, we are pleased to announce that the first Solar Farm Blocks were successfully commissioned and went online on 31 May 2024. This achievement represents a major step forward, as these blocks are now actively contributing solar energy to the Jundee Grid, enhancing our capacity to deliver clean and sustainable power to the region.
Additionally, the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) commissioning is underway with first solar energy captured and discharged. This system will play a crucial role in storing excess energy generated by the solar farm, providing a stable and reliable energy supply even during periods of low solar production. The integration of the BESS is a key component of our strategy to optimise renewable energy utilisation and maintain grid stability.
Northern Star’s Jundee Operation is an underground mining operation located in the Northern Goldfields region of Western Australia, approximately 45 km north-east of Wiluna and about 520 km north of Kalgoorlie. Northern Star Resources is an ASX-listed, global-scale Australian gold producer with world-class projects in Australia and North America.
Zenith Energy has been providing 46.6MW of power generation to the Jundee mine using natural gas-fuelled generators since 2016. Recently, we signed a renewable energy Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Northern Star Resources for their Jundee mining operation. This includes adding 24 MW of wind, 16.9 MWp of solar, and 12 MW / 13.4 MWh of battery storage, providing up to 56% of the mine site’s power.
These developments help Zenith Energy achieve its goal of reducing carbon intensity by 20% by 2025 from our 2020 baseline. This milestone is a result of the incredible work of our staff and strong relationships with our partners.
