BHP has signed a renewable power purchasing agreement (PPA) to supply up to 50 per cent of its electricity needs at the Kwinana Refinery from Merredin Solar Farm – the largest in Western Australia. The agreement will help BHP reduce emissions from electricity use at the refinery by up to 50 per cent by 2024, based on FY2020 levels.
The agreement with Risen Energy is for ten years from 1 February 2021. This will effectively displace an estimated 364,000 tonnes of CO2e over the life of the contract. This is the equivalent of removing 11,200 combustion engine cars from WA's roads every year.
This is the first renewable energy PPA signed by BHP in Western Australia and follows renewable agreements covering BHP's operations in Queensland in 2020 and in Chile in 2019.
BHP Nickel West, Asset President, Eddy Haegel said: "This contract will further increase the sustainability of the nickel produced by Nickel West. It will reduce the refinery's electricity emissions by 50 per cent, diversify our energy supply, and reduce the refinery's electricity bill.
"Nickel is a future-facing commodity that is essential to creating the high performing lithium ion batteries used in battery electric vehicles (BEV). Consequently, the demand for nickel and especially the nickel produced by Nickel West is set to grow dramatically. The sustainable production of nickel is also essential to meet this future demand as the customers purchasing BEVs want to know that the inputs to the manufacturing of these vehicles are also sustainable.
"Nickel West is already one of the most sustainable nickel producers in the world but has committed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions further.
"This contract, combined with our high quality nickel deposits, and our integrated value chain further improves our position as one of the lowest carbon nickel miners in the world."
Risen Energy Australia, Vice General Manager, John Zhong said: "We are proud to sign this agreement with BHP Nickel West. This agreement will bolster current and future Western Australian renewable projects. We look forward to welcoming many more clean energy partnerships to power manufacturing, minerals processing and other Western Australian industries."
The contract will contribute to BHP's medium-term, science-based target to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30 per cent by 2030.
About Merredin Solar Farm
The 132 MW Merredin Solar Farm is made up of 354,452 solar panels and is West Australia's largest completed solar farm. It has an output of 274GWh of electricity annually. This is enough green energy to power approximately 42,000 Western Australian homes.
About Risen Energy
Risen Energy Australia has had an established presence in the Australian market since 2008, supplying solar PV panels for the retail market. Its long-term goal also includes the funding, construction and operation of commercial and utility-scale solar projects.
Risen Energy was founded in 1986 and is a leading China-based PV solutions provider that is traded as an A-share on China's Shenzhen Stock Exchange. The company has over 10,000 employees globally and are the sixth largest PV module supplier in the world.
Additional comments
Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Energy Bill Johnston:
"Congratulations to everyone at BHP Nickel West for taking this important step forward to reduce their operation's carbon footprint.
"BHP's Kwinana nickel refinery is a key contributor to WA's future battery industry, and is helping global efforts to decarbonise.
"The McGowan Government is supportive of mining and resources companies that embrace clean energy solutions."
