Panel installation complete at solar and battery project built to power Pilbara mining giants

Leading Australian energy infrastructure business APA Group announced on Tuesday that it has completed installation of all solar panels at the 45MW Port Hedland solar farm, which will also feature a 35MW/36.7MWh battery energy storage system.

Following its 2023 acquisition of local energy network, generation, and storage assets from rival utility Alinta, Australian gas pipeline giant APA Group took over development of the Port Hedland Solar Farm and Battery project.

The 45MW solar project and 35MW/36.7MWh battery energy storage system is expected to supply renewable energy for large mining customers in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, accompanying the existing Port Hedland Power Station (PHPS), now owned and operated by APA.

Specifically, Australian mining giant BHP signed a deal with Alinta in 2022 that would see electricity from the solar project power the daytime operations at its Port Hedland operations – a contract which was carried over with APA’s acquisition.

Construction of the project reached a significant milestone this week, with APA Group announcing on its LinkedIn account that all solar panels had been installed by project partners Monford Group and Shanghai Electric Group.

This seemingly ensures development of the project is on track to meet the expected beginning of operations later this year.