German clean energy developer Juwi Ag will partner with Australian mining firm Sandfire Resources to construct the largest off-grid solar power facility of its kind in the world.
The $40 million plant will be built at the DeGrussa copper mine, owned by Sandfire Resource. The solar farm will incorporate more than 34,000 solar panels with solar trackers and be supported by a 6MW battery storage. A 20MW diesel power station currently operating at DeGrussa will be integrated into the development.
Once completed, the power plant will be capable of generating enough renewable power to reduce carbon emissions by around 12,000 tonnes per year. Under the agreement, the cost of the project will be funded by $1 million from Sandfire, with the rest to be funded by Juwi. Construction will begin in the second quarter of this year pending financing and is expected to be commission during the first quarter of 2016.