Tag Archives: Wayne Bramwell

Pacific Energy helps Westgold Resources power Mid West region operations

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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

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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 gas and renewables agreements with Pacific Energy, CEFA

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Westgold Resources, in line with its ongoing objectives to enhance profitability and focus on cost optimisation, has executed a new Electricity Purchase Agreement with independent power provider Pacific Energy and a new LNG Supply Agreement with Clean Energy Fuels Australia (CEFA).

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 current diesel price and supports its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives that will reduce the company’s long term greenhouse gas emissions, it said.

Under the build-own-operate agreement with Pacific Energy, Westgold will materially reduce diesel consumption by replacing six diesel-fired power stations (two owned and operated by Pacific Energy) with four new, highly efficient gas-fired power stations to incorporate renewable energy options and use solar power and battery storage across the Bryah and Murchison Operations. Critically for Westgold, this transition to a mixed generation platform includes renewables and gas and is expected to reduce carbon emissions from diesel-powered generators by over 57%, due to the higher integration of renewables (34% solar) and cleaner fuel (gas versus diesel), the company said.

Westgold’s first new Pacific Energy power station will be commissioned in July 2023 at the Tuckabianna processing hub, with the three additional new power plants scheduled for commissioning from September 2023.

Westgold has concurrently signed a bulk LNG supply agreement with CEFA. CEFA will supply Westgold from its expanded LNG plant located at Mt Magnet (pictured), 80 km south of Cue. This plant is currently providing LNG to another Pacific Energy power plant in the Murchison region and provides a substantial advantage due to its proximity to Westgold’s operations. CEFA will fund and construct satellite LNG facilities (primarily comprising LNG storage and re-gasification equipment) at Westgold’s project sites, with the LNG trucked direct from its plant at Mt Magnet.

The new gas and solar power station to be commissioned at Westgold’s Meekatharra operations will also serve to simplify power generation by removing smaller diesel fired power stations at the Paddy’s Flat and Bluebird underground mines and providing them power from a larger gas-fired power station via overhead powerlines, according to the company.

Westgold Managing Director, Wayne Bramwell, said: “The transition to a cleaner, more efficient energy platform that utilises renewables and gas in financial year 2023 is strategic for Westgold. It is an important step in meeting our ESG targets but is pivotal to reducing the operating cost of our business.

“Westgold has selected two industry leaders in Pacific Energy and CEFA to work with us in this transition and we look forward to seeing the benefits that integrating renewable power and cleaner energy alternatives can deliver to our business and the communities within which we work.”