Zenith Energy is the proponent behind a massive renewable energy project which will fuel the decarbonisation of Northern Star Resources’ Super Pit operations in the heart of Kalgoorlie.
Zenith Energy is the proponent behind a massive renewable energy project which will fuel the decarbonisation of Northern Star Resources’ Super Pit operations in the heart of Kalgoorlie.
Northern Star has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Zenith, which will build, own and operate 256 megawatts of wind generation, 138MW of solar generation and 138MW/300 megawatt hours of battery energy storage in the region.
The project will incorporate the construction of as many as 32 wind turbines and major infrastructure around 10km from the Kalgoorlie city centre and supply as much as 70 per cent of the power required to run the Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines operation - colloquially known as the Super Pit.
The turbines will be among Australia’s tallest, standing 150m high with a rotor diameter of 182 metres. They will be installed by Goldwind Australia.
The solar panels will be supplied by solar system manufacturer 5B and will comprise more than 230,000 solar panels on platforms manufactured in Adelaide.
It will be linked to KCGM via an underground cable.
The power plan will allow Northern Star to reduce its reliance on the South West Interconnected system and the Parkeston thermal power plant, which it owns in a joint venture with TransAlta.
Zenith managing director Hamish Moffat labelled the deal a landmark moment for the energy transition in the Goldfields.
“This renewable energy solution provides Northern Star with cost-effective power while having the future potential to improve energy reliability for Kalgoorlie,” he said.
The deal will take Zenith’s generation under contract to beyond 1.3 gigawatts and was foreshadowed by Business News in September – when the renewables market leader had a contract book of 700MW under contract.
Northern Star and Zenith have also entered a joint venture to supply 120MW of thermal power in support of renewables and as a backup to KCGM – which will also be owned and run by Zenith under a 25-year supply arrangement.
The projects will be known as the Eastern Goldfields power projects.
A cost for each has not been disclosed.
Zenith said the commissioning of the projects was expected to begin in the middle of 2027, subject to approvals.
The proposal for construction is currently before the Environmental Protection Authority, which was submitted by Northern Star in recent weeks.
In the submission, Northern Star expressed doubts over its ability to meet its emission reduction targets while relying on the grid.
“Northern Star could not rely on the greening of the grid to achieve its emissions reduction targets,” Northern Star said in its EPA supporting documents.
The proposal for the massive renewables project is out for public comment, with the EPA yet to decide whether it will fully assess the plan.
Zenith already supplies renewably generated power to Northern Star at its Jundee goldmine in the Northern Goldfields.
