Mineral Resources (MinRes) says it has marked an important milestone in its energy strategy with the successful installation of a 2.1 MW solar-battery system at its Wonmunna iron ore project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Located 80 km northwest of Newman, the Wonmunna mine was purchased as an undeveloped project in the 2021 financial year. First ore was achieved just five months after construction began at the site and during the 2022 financial year, production from Wonmunna ramped up to 5 Mt/y.

Installation of the 5B Maverick solar technology at the Wonmunna site – complete with more than 4,000 solar panels – was completed during the 2023 financial year. Following successful testing and optimisation works, the technology is now providing significant benefits for site operations and reducing dependency on diesel fuel, MinRes says.

The combined solar-battery system will produce more that 30% of the mine’s power requirements and ultimately cut diesel consumption by approximately 760,000 litres each year, while reducing the site’s carbon emissions by around 2,000 t/y of carbon dioxide equivalent.

In addition, the crusher at the site is powered 100% by the system during the middle of the day when renewable output meets peak plant load.

During the warmer summer months, the system can achieve more than 40% displacement on any given day – and, with a 20-year life span, it can be redeployed to other operations once Wonmunna reaches its end-of-life, MinRes says.

Chief Executive Energy, Darren Hardy, said the Wonmunna solar and battery array at Wonmunna was a positive step forward in the company’s renewable energy strategy.

“MinRes is committed to pursuing renewable energy opportunities where we can and our team has been working hard to deliver a solar array and battery solution that delivers optimum output at Wonmunna,” Hardy said. “Together with natural gas, renewables will play an important role in our energy future, and MinRes continues to pursue off-grid solar power and energy storage solutions to support our remote locations.”

Gas and LNG power stations currently supporting MinRes’ lithium operations at Mt Marion in the Goldfields and Wodgina in the Pilbara are delivering significant emissions savings, according to the company. This includes a 64 MW capable power station at Wodgina, which is the largest of its kind on a mine site in the southern hemisphere, the company says.

At the upcoming Onslow Iron project, also in the Pilbara, MinRes will install a range of energy solutions designed to offset diesel with alternative fuels and renewable energy options, energy storage, and electrification of mobile equipment and transport.

MinRes says it recognises the need for meaningful action to address climate change and is committed to investing in activities that reduce the carbon intensity of its operations and maintaining best-practice environmental, social and governance performance.

The company’s Roadmap to Net Zero Emissions outlines MinRes’ pathway towards a transition to gas, renewable energy and other emerging technologies to support its operations and reduce its carbon intensity – including the company’s goal to achieve of net-zero emissions by 2050.