Independent power producer Zenith Energy has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Bellevue Gold Limited for the Bellevue Gold Project in Western Australia.
Under the terms of the agreement, Zenith Energy will finance, build, own, operate, and maintain a cutting-edge 88MW hybrid power station at the Bellevue Gold Project for an initial term of 15 years. This off-grid facility will utilise a combination of wind and solar generation, thermal generation, and battery storage to meet up to 80% of the project’s power needs with renewable energy.
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Furthermore, the hybrid power solution will allow the project to operate on 100% renewable energy and seamlessly switch to an ‘engine-off’ mode during periods of high renewable energy generation.
Zenith Energy CEO and managing director Hamish Moffat said, “The signing of the PPA with Bellevue Gold marks a partnership that will continue industry leading decarbonisation, while also further developing the recently announced Tjiwarl Katu Power JV between Zenith Energy and Tjiwarl Contracting Services the wholly owned entity of Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation—the traditional owners and native title holders of the land on which Bellevue Gold is located.
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“Zenith Energy will apply its expertise in hybrid renewable power stations and ESG action to facilitate Bellevue’s achievement of their sustainability objectives.”Â
Bellevue CEO and managing director Darren Stralow said, “This power purchase agreement is another key milestone on the path to the start of gold production later this year. The high utilisation of renewable energy in the power station and the flexibility to time milling activities with renewable energy availability is central to our aspirational goal to be Australia’s first carbon-neutral gold producer.”
