Giant off-grid gold mine achieves average 91 per cent renewables over month with wind, solar and batteries

The giant Bellevue gold mine, located in a remote off-grid region of Western Australia, has achieved a record share of renewables over the last month from its newly installed wind, solar and big batteries.

Bellevue, which was officially opened last year, has progressively ramped up its renewables share, with the last of its 27 megawatts (MW) of solar PV capacity and the last of the four 6 MW turbines completed in July. It also has a 15 MW, 30 MWh battery.

The results have been spectacular, and even better than Bellevue expected. According to its latest quarterly report released on Thursday, it achieved an average 91 per cent renewable share in the month of September.

This followed rates of 88 per cent renewables over in August and 78 per cent over July, and took the average renewables share for the entire quarter to 86 per cent. It included a record 88-hour steak of 100% instantaneous renewable energy.

Bellevue says the share of renewables should increase over spring and summer, because of the excellent solar and wind conditions.

“The December 2025 quarter should see further benefit from higher contributions from the solar farm and wind farm, as we head into summer – which is not only the sunniest period, but also the windiest period of the year,” it said.

“This is expected to further reduce our use of diesel and LNG in the power station.” The renewables are supported by 9 MW of diesel capacity and 15 MW of gas capacity.

Bellevue Gold has said that it expects its annual share of renewables to be more than 80 per cent, and it is also looking at electrifying its mining operations and its transport, and power these at times when excess renewables are being spilled.

The mine already claims to the world’s first “net zero” gold mine in the world, with its remaining emissions offset with carbon offsets.

It is one of a number of off-grid – and on-grid – mines pursuing high levels of renewables – both in the interests of avoiding crippling fossil fuel costs, particularly in remote areas, but also because of global demand for low emissions products, including for gold.

Lithium miner Liontown Resources, ironically backed by anti-renewable and anti net-zero campaigner Gina Rinerhart – achieved 81 per cent renewables over the last year at its remote Kathleen Valley mine, which features 30 MW of wind capacity, 17 MW of solar and a 17 MW, 19 MWh battery.

Bigger miners are also aiming high for their renewable share.

Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue is aiming for “real zero” at its massive Pilbara iron ore operations by 2030, which means burning no gas or diesel for mining operations, power or transport.

It has just unveiled a new 2 gigawatt wind project to help reach that target, and is rolling out the first of up to 400 giant electric haul trucks, which it says already match diesel on costs.

BHP has signed two landmark wind and battery off take deals with Neoen to power 70 per cent of its huge Olympic Dam mine and smelting operations in South Australia, with the rest to come from the state’s main grid, which is already at 75 per cent renewables and aiming for 100 per cent “net” renewables by 2030.

And Rio Tinto has also flagged the early closure of the biggest coal generator in Queensland, at Gladstone, so it can switch the power source of its smelters and refineries there – the biggest energy consumers in the state – to a combination of wind, solar, battery storage and firming capacity.

It has already written contracts for wind, solar and solar battery hybrid projects – the largest of its type – and expects to sign more in the coming year.

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