Pacific Energy has been awarded the contract to deliver a 30MW hybrid power generation facility by Iluka Resources for its new Balranald mineral sands mine in south-western New South Wales.
The system is the second of its kind to be delivered in New South Wales by Pacific Energy, just one hour south of its new hybrid facility at Tronox’s Atlas-Campaspe mine.
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Balranald’s hybrid power system will comprise a 10.6MW solar farm, 14.4MW of diesel power, and a 5.4MW/3.2MWh grid-forming battery energy system that will be designed and manufactured in-house by Pacific Energy. The power system will be capable of hydrocarbons-off functionality and will be delivered under a 12-year build-own-operate agreement.
Pacific Energy has engaged PBE Rutherford to install a 2km overhead powerline connecting the solar farm to the power station. The contract builds on the partnership developed between the two companies for similar work at the Tronox project.
Pacific Energy will also be installing a temporary power station at the Balranald site by the end of May to deliver power while the permanent power station is under construction.
Pacific Energy CEO Jamie Cullen said, “Collaborating with Iluka on the Balranald project underscores the continued trust in our partnership, which dates back to 2009 in South Australia, when we established the Jacinth-Ambrosia power station and have since undertaken a solar expansion under our long-term contract there.
“Our Balranald system will be the second off-grid hybrid power system we’ll be delivering to a miner in New South Wales, marking another important milestone in Pacific Energy’s operational expansion and national growth strategy.”
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Iluka’s West Balranald deposit is one of the world’s highest grade critical minerals deposits, containing significant quantities of rutile and zircon, as well as smaller but material quantities of rare earths.
Site works for Pacific Energy’s permanent power system are expected to commence in June, subject to approvals, with the power station due to come online by the end of 2025 and the solar due for completion in March 2026.
