Western Australia-headquartered clean energy developer Pacific Energy has signed a deal to deliver its biggest solar farm yet for South African miner Gold Fields’ St Ives mine, 80 kilometres south of Kalgoorlie.
Pacific Energy has entered into a partnership with Gold Fields to design and build a 35 MW solar farm at the St Ives gold mine, located 80 kilometers south of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia’s Eastern Goldfields region. This solar initiative is part of Gold Fields' A$296 million St Ives Renewables Project, which will also feature a 42 MW wind power component.
The solar farm aims to supply over 70% of the mine’s energy needs from renewable sources, targeting a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030. This project marks Gold Fields' first in-house management of a renewable energy initiative and represents the largest solar installation undertaken by Pacific Energy.
Jamie Cullen, CEO of Pacific Energy, noted the system's design reflects Gold Fields' commitment to decarbonization. He emphasized that the solar project is scalable, allowing for future expansions as needed. “Gold Fields is taking firm steps to significantly reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030, and we’re committed to helping them achieve this,” he stated.
Gold Fields’ Principal Specialist - Project Director, Simon Schmid, highlighted the significance of local partnerships, expressing pride in collaborating with Pacific Energy. “This marks a significant step forward in Gold Fields’ decarbonization journey,” he said.
Civil work on the solar farm is set to begin in November 2024, with full operations anticipated by 2026.
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