Outback mine hopes to be first in Queensland powered by wind

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Mining may have a dirty reputation, but an outback zinc mine is hoping to change perceptions by proving it can go green with a shift to renewable energy. 

In north-west Queensland, the MMG Limited Dugald River mine has traditionally been wholly powered by the gas-fired Diamantina Power Station.

That was until March 2024, when the country’s largest remote solar farm officially switched on to power the mineral-rich region.

As more switch to renewables, companies such as MMG Limited are setting targets to become carbon neutral by 2050.

Mine general manager Tim Akroyd said joining the transition was a natural move.

When the Dugald River Solar Farm in Mount Isa was switched on, the company signed up as a foundation customer.

“The solar farm has been a great help to the site,” Mr Akroyd said.

“It’s a substantial power savings that provides about a 33 per cent reduction in carbon emissions.

“We obviously need to find more, so the next step is another renewable source, and wind seems like a good option for us.”

The mine site has reduced its fossil fuel consumption by 33 per cent through solar power. (Supplied: MMG)

Feasibility study into wind

Strong winds sweeping through the region have prompted a feasibility study, currently underway, to investigate whether wind could be another sustainable addition to the site.

“We’ve done measurements, we have a special radar up on the small ridge near our mine site and we get good night wind,” Mr Akroyd said.

“It’s complementary to solar, which provides power during the day, and in the future wind should provide power during the night.”

A photo of the Dugald River mine site surface structures

The mine site operates 24/7 and is currently powered by solar and gas. (Supplied: MMG)

Mr Akroyd said “backup power” was still required because there was no battery storage at the mine site.

“Cloudy days when you don’t get the sun shining or the wind doesn’t blow, the site runs 24/7 so, we will still need some gas-fired support,” he said.

“But it’s a substantial step to look to move to three-quarters or 75 per cent of our primary power to come from renewable sources.”

A man and woman smile at the official solar farm switch on

Tim Akroyd and APA group executive Petrea Bradford at the new solar farm site in 2024. (Supplied: MMG)

Changing the face of mining

Power in north-west Queensland is expensive compared to other parts of the country because the region is not connected to the national grid.

The announcement of CopperString 2032, a project set to connect towns as far west as Mount Isa to the national electricity market, saw several new renewable proposals pop up across the North West Minerals Province as companies began to capitalise on the major infrastructure promise.

And while the cost-savings of renewables were a bonus for MMG, Mr Akroyd said it was about more than that.

“I’m excited that Dugald River can be the leading edge and demonstrate to the next generation how we can do mining differently,” he said.

“We need the resources that mining generates, it’s a really important industry in Queensland, but I’ve got children myself and as a father, we need to preserve the planet for them and the future generations behind them.

“We are the first mine site in Queensland to have applied to put a wind turbine, or wind farm on a mining lease.”

The total cost of the proposed wind project is not yet clear.

The feasibility study is set to wrap up in the middle of the year and construction is forecast to begin as soon as the end of the year.

A digital render of the wind farm nearby a mine site

The Dugald River mine site would be Queensland’s first to have a wind farm on a mining lease. (Supplied: MMG)

Other mines could follow

University of Southern Queensland’s Andreas Helwig, who specialised in renewable power, said the move was positive.

“If this mine is replacing one-third of their total energy with solar, that’s a roughly 34 per cent reduction in the actual greenhouse gas emissions,” the associate professor said.

He said other mines would follow suit, but there were a range of factors that would need to be considered first.

“In Saudi Arabia, for example, dust can reduce their solar output by 50 per cent,” he said.

“So there’s some maintenance issues that need to be considered as well.”

A man stands with a blue shirt and vest stands with his arms crossed smiling

Andreas Helwig says there are many things to consider before encouraging all mines to do the same. (Supplied: University of Southern Queensland)

The Dugald River mine has an estimated 20 years of life remaining.

Mr Helwig said it was important for the company to consider the “end-of-life relics” that would eventually be left.

“A 20-year-life would probably match pretty well with the life of [solar panels and wind turbines],” he said.

“But what happens at end of life? This is something we’re very bad at in Australia and we don’t have legislation in place for that.

“There’s a number of interesting engineering problems to optimise to make sure we have the best result for Queensland, the economy and the environment.”

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