Pacific Energy to add solar to diesel plant at Aussie mine, hires Juwi

Perth-based power generation specialist Pacific Energy Ltd announced on Tuesday it will add a solar component to an existing 10-MW diesel power station at the Jacinth Ambrosia mineral sands mine in South Australia.

The company, through Pacific Energy (KPS), has been operating the existing facility since 2009 and will now convert it to a hybrid power plant by installing and integrating a 3.5-MW solar park there. The project also includes the incorporation of electric turbo compounding (ETC) technology that will enable each of the ten 1-MW generators to maintain the same power output using less fuel and emitting less carbon dioxide (CO2).

German renewables company Juwi AG said separately that its Brisbane-based unit, Juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd, has secured the construction job on the hybrid project.

Juwi noted that this will be the sixth hybrid project for the company to date.

The Jacinth Ambrosia mine is run by mineral sands company Iluka Resources Ltd (ASX:ILU). According to Juwi’s announcement, the completed hybrid plant will deliver nearly 21% of the site’s annual electricity needs. The project is seen to be finalised later in 2021.

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