Zenith Energy has signed a landmark 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Northern Star Resources to develop what it claims will be Australia’s largest renewable energy project dedicated to mining operations.
The proposed project in Western Australia will feature 138MW of solar PV generation, 256MW of wind capacity and a 138MW/300MWh battery energy storage system (BESS).
The hybrid renewable energy hub will supply power to Northern Star’s Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) operations in Western Australia’s Goldfields region, with the facility located approximately 10km northeast of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is the largest region in the state, covering over 955,000 square kilometres. Its economy is driven by mining, particularly gold and nickel, as well as agriculture in the south.
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Under the PPA structure, Perth-headquartered Zenith will fund, build, own and operate the power facilities throughout the 25-year term of the agreement.
The project represents a step forward in the decarbonisation of Australia’s mining sector, with Northern Star forecasting that renewable energy will account for more than 70% of electricity demand at its Kalgoorlie operations once the facility is fully operational.
The KCGM operations encompass one of Australia’s largest open-pit gold mines. This surface mining technique involves extracting minerals from an extensive, open excavation in the ground.
The significance of this deployment lies in its role as a demonstration of the large-scale adoption of renewable energy within the resource extraction sector.
The PPA model structure enables mining companies to access renewable energy without upfront capital expenditure while securing predictable power costs over extended periods.
The 300MWh battery storage system will play a crucial role in managing the intermittency of renewable energy generation while providing grid services and operational flexibility.
This storage capacity positions the project among Australia’s largest mining-focused battery deployments, comparable to Fortescue’s 250MWh BYD battery system in Western Australia and significantly larger than recent installations such as Jinko ESS’s 5MWh liquid-cooled BESS for a Western Australian mine.
Beyond the renewable energy components, Zenith has entered a joint venture with Northern Star to supply 120MW of thermal generation along with a 132kV transmission network and substations.
Zenith will build and operate the thermal power station and transmission infrastructure under a separate 25-year agreement, creating an integrated energy solution that combines renewable energy, conventional generation and storage.
Zenith Energy managing director Hamish Moffat emphasised that the agreement exemplifies the large-scale energy transition occurring in the Goldfields, a region critical to Australia’s precious and critical metals industry.
“The KCGM project provides a blueprint for what modern mining energy systems should look like: cost-effective, clean, scalable, reliable and delivery of tangible benefits to local and regional communities, Moffat said.
Key design, engineering, and procurement activities are already underway for the project, with commissioning expected to commence in mid-2027, subject to receipt of environmental and regulatory approvals.
5B to deploy ‘Maverick’ solar arrays for 138MW Kalgoorlie gold mine installation
The solar component of Zenith Energy’s hybrid renewable energy project will be delivered by Australian solar technology company 5B, which will construct the 138MW solar PV power plant using its proprietary Maverick solar array system.
5B has developed its own prefabricated solar technology, with its Maverick system designed to reduce installation time and costs through factory-assembled solar arrays that can be rapidly deployed in the field.
The company’s approach addresses key challenges in remote Australian locations where traditional solar construction can face logistical and workforce constraints.
The selection of 5B aligns with Australia’s broader push to advance solar manufacturing and deployment capabilities. The company became the first recipient of Australia’s Solar SunShot programme earlier this year, securing government support to scale its innovative solar array technology and establish local manufacturing capabilities.
5B’s technology platform has attracted significant industry partnerships, including a recent strategic module supply agreement with JA Solar for a 100MW project, demonstrating the company’s ability to secure tier-one component suppliers for large-scale deployments.
The Maverick system’s prefabricated approach offers particular advantages for mining sector applications, where rapid deployment and minimal site disruption are critical factors.
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