This Report describes the challenges, issues and lessons learnt for the Project from financial close through to the completion of construction.
Report extract
Alinta has constructed a 60MW AC Solar Photovoltaic (PV) power station with interconnecting infrastructure in the Pilbara to supply electricity to Fortescue Metal Group’s (Fortescue) Chichester Hub mining operations. Fortescue is Alinta’s second customer on its Pilbara inland power system, the first being Roy Hill’s Iron Ore mine. The Project is the first example of large-scale renewables in both low inertia grids and remote mining operations in Australia.
Alinta’s Pilbara inland power system now includes six sources of generation:
- Alinta’s Newman gas turbines;
- Alinta’s Newman battery;
- Alinta’s Roy Hill diesel generators;
- Fortescue’s Christmas Creek diesel generators;
- Fortescue’s Cloud break diesel generators;
- Alinta’s Solar PV facility;
and 4 load centres:
- Alinta’s Newman battery;
- Roy Hill Iron Ore’s mine;
- Fortescue’s Cloudbreak mine and
- Fortescue’s Christmas Creek mine.