Tag Archives: Bluebird

Pacific Energy helps Westgold Resources power Mid West region operations

12th March 2024Environmental, Mine operation news, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable miningBig Bell, Bluebird, Fortnum, hybrid power, Jamie Cullen, mine power, Pacific Energy, Tuckabianna, Wayne Bramwell, WestgoldDaniel Gleeson

Pacific Energy says it has successfully designed and delivered four industry-leading hybrid power systems for Westgold Resources Limited’s gold mining operations in Western Australia’s Mid West region.

The hybrid systems, which have a combined capacity of 82 MW, have been delivered under a seven-year build-own-operate agreement and comprise 28 MW of solar, 11.5 MW of battery energy storage (BESS) and 42.5 MW of high-efficiency gas generation.

The four systems, located at Westgold’s Tuckabianna, Bluebird, Fortnum and Big Bell facilities, were delivered concurrently and in parallel with Westgold’s operational expansion projects at all four sites. They replace six diesel-fired plants and are expected to collectively displace 38 million litres of diesel every year and cut carbon emissions by up to 57,000 t annually.

The Tuckabianna system, which was fully commissioned in August 2023, achieved an average of 31% solar penetration between November 2023 and January 2024, peaking at 36.9% in December.

Westgold’s Managing Director and CEO, Wayne Bramwell, said powering Westgold’s operations with renewables was at the heart of its Clean Energy Transition project, which is set to improve the company’s environmental efficiencies and reduce operating costs.

“Moving towards renewables works for Westgold as a business because it drives costs out,” Bramwell said. “It also works for the environment because it significantly reduces carbon emissions and it sends a signal about our long-term view of building a sustainable busines.”

Pacific Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Jamie Cullen, said: “This complex project showcases Pacific Energy’s commitment to delivering sustainable, cutting-edge solutions for our clients, even in the very challenging circumstances we encounter in remote locations.

“Pacific Energy and Westgold have worked side-by-side in the Mid West’s tough environment to deliver these systems safely, with zero lost time injuries. And by delivering the hybrid systems concurrently, we’ve been able to identify different response scenarios at each location and implement those learnings across the board to optimise system capabilities.”

Pacific Energy centred the design of the hybrid systems around its virtual generator (VG) BESS technology, which integrates renewable energy sources and dynamically stabilises the power systems, marking a shift away from thermal generation as the primary source of system stability.

An evolution of grid forming BESS technology, VG BESS can mimic the characteristics of rotating thermal generators, providing for the first time the ability to stabilise large-scale power systems without burning fuel or using legacy technologies like synchronous condensers, according to Pacific Energy.

The new hybrid systems also have emergency hydrocarbons-off functionality, which enables mining operations using solar and BESS during system outages and other critical situations, it added.

Cullen said: “We’re approaching our systems design with a future-focused mindset, so they can support the increasing sophistication of renewable energy technologies for years to come, and to ensure we’re delivering the decarbonisation outcomes our clients are looking for.”

Westgold’s Clean Energy Transition initiative accelerates with start up of first hybrid power station

10th August 2023Mine operation news, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Precious metalsBig Bell, Bluebird, Clean Energy Fuels Australia, Clean Energy Transition, Fortnum, hybrid power, Jamie Cullen, LNG, Pacific Energy, renewables, solar power, Tuckabianna, Wayne Bramwell, Westgold ResourcesDaniel Gleeson

The Tuckabianna hybrid power facility – the first of four new hybrid power stations being developed for Westgold Resources – has commenced operations, in Western Australia; a major milestone for the gold miner and its Clean Energy Transition initiative.

The four facilities – at Tuckabianna, Bluebird, Fortnum and Big Bell – are expected to provide substantial reductions in emissions and power costs across Westgold’s operations in the Murchison and Bryah regions of Western Australia, according to Pacific Energy, the provider of these solutions. The system will have a combined installed capacity of 82 MW, providing an expected annual reduction of 38 million litres in diesel fuel usage and approximately 57,000 t/y less CO2-equivalent emissions.

Westgold Chair, Cheryl Edwardes, and Managing Director, Wayne Bramwell, joined business partners, local officials and Traditional Owners on site to open the 17.9 MW facility this week.

The Tuckabianna facility includes a 6 MW solar farm fitted with 11,088 photovoltaic panels, a battery energy storage system with 2.4 MW installed capacity, and a 9.5 MW gas-fuelled power station.

The gas-fired power stations, battery storage and solar farms are owned and operated by Pacific Energy under an Electricity Purchase Agreement, and the LNG is provided by Clean Energy Fuels Australia (CEFA) under an LNG supply agreement. These agreements were signed last year.

These agreements will deliver substantial operating cost savings to Westgold in its 2023-2024 financial years onwards of around A$100/oz ($68/oz) at the then current diesel price and supports its commitment to environmental, social and governance initiatives that will reduce the company’s long term greenhouse gas emissions, it said.

Westgold’s Bramwell said: “Westgold continues to innovate to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and drive our operating costs down. This new hybrid power facility at Tuckabianna incorporates renewable energy and is a great first step along this journey, with power generated from these facilities energising our mines and processing hubs for decades to come. The successful commissioning of Tuckabianna is a testament to the tireless work of Westgold’s project and operational teams, business partners at Pacific Energy and CEFA and construction crews who have delivered our first power station safely and on schedule.”

Pacific Energy CEO, Jamie Cullen, said: “Congratulations to the Pacific Energy and Westgold project teams for delivering the Tuckabianna hybrid station – on time, and most importantly safely and incident free. Tuckabianna is part of a larger project to consolidate six existing power stations into four high efficiency hybrid power stations that incorporate gas, solar and battery storage systems. Collectively this represents one of the largest fully integrated hybrid power systems in the Australian mining sector.

“As a valued client of Pacific Energy since 2015, we are delighted to join Westgold on its transition to a cleaner energy future.”

Westgold signs up MLG for transport, maintenance and management services

5th September 2022Mine operation news, Mining services, Precious metalsBluebird, Bryah Basin, Fortnum, gold, METS, mining services, MLG Oz, Murchison, Murray Leahy, Tuckabianna, Western Australia, Westgold ResourcesDaniel Gleeson

MLG Oz Limited says it has been awarded a material five-year contract by Westgold Resources Limited that will see the METS company service the gold miner’s operational hubs across the Murchison and Bryah Basin regions.

The contract, which leverages MLG’s integrated support model, is focused on enhancing Westgold’s operating efficiencies. It also consolidates MLG’s resources in the Mid-West region and represents a material win for the company, it said.

Westgold owns and operates the Tuckabianna, Bluebird and Fortnum processing hubs across the Murchison and Bryah Basin regions of Western Australia, with its objective to leverage MLG’s existing fleet capacity to enhance operational efficiencies and use MLG’s latest road haulage technical advancements, MLG said.

Westgold is to provide dedicated maintenance facilities at each of its sites to support MLG operations.

The scope of services includes the delivery of in-pit, off- and on-road haulage, road maintenance and run of mine management services activities across all of Westgold’s operations.

The initial ramp up and mobilisation activities are expected to commence in October 2022, with anticipated annual revenues of circa-A$40 million ($27 million) with revenue to build from December 2022.

MLG founder, Managing Director and majority shareholder, Murray Leahy, said: “We are delighted Westgold has selected us to enhance their operations in the Murchison and Bryah Basin regions. Westgold is focused on driving cost and operational efficiencies to enhance the profitability of its business and we are proud to have been chosen as a key and trusted business partner.

“This is a large opportunity for MLG to establish a long-term relationship with a growth-oriented gold miner and Westgold’s faith in MLG represents a significant endorsement of our capabilities.”

MLG Oz is a founder-led business that provides a range of services to mine sites, integrated around the needs of client’s ore processing facilities.