In a landmark move for Western Australia's resources sector, gold mining giant Northern Star has unveiled ambitious plans to power the iconic Kalgoorlie Super Pit with predominantly renewable energy.
A Green Vision for an Iconic Mine
The $36 billion company submitted a proposal this month to construct a major hybrid renewable energy project near Kalgoorlie. This development would see the famous Super Pit – a massive 600-metre deep gold mine reportedly visible from space – powered by 70% renewable energy.
Northern Star's plan involves building a 256-megawatt wind farm featuring 32 turbines, complemented by a 140-megawatt solar farm. The project will include a substantial 300-megawatt hour battery storage system to ensure consistent power supply.
Addressing Grid Constraints and Growing Demand
In its submission to environmental regulators, Northern Star explained it "could not rely on the greening of the grid" to meet its emissions targets. The company cited constrained transmission links into the region as a key factor driving the decision.
The shift comes as Northern Star's electricity demands are set to more than double due to significant operational expansions. These include upgrading the Fimiston processing mill and transitioning to underground mining operations.
The proposal also aims to reduce reliance on the ageing Parkeston gas power plant, which Northern Star co-owns and has been operating for approximately 30 years.
Power Reliability and Environmental Benefits
Kalgoorlie's power infrastructure has faced significant challenges, including a major blackout in early 2024 and subsequent reliability issues. Northern Star's renewable energy project offers a solution to these problems while delivering substantial environmental benefits.
Over its projected 40-year operational life, the renewable energy installation is expected to prevent 5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere.
The construction phase will create employment for 300 workers, providing a boost to the local economy during development.
Northern Star emphasised the growing need for such initiatives, stating: "There is a clear and escalating demand for large scale renewable energy projects in Australia to achieve international decarbonisation goals and interim greenhouse gas reduction targets."
The proposal is now open for public comment after being formally lodged with environmental regulators.
