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Energy: Zenith starts feeding solar power into Independence’s Nova operations
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Leveraging the sun’s energy to power mining operations in one of the world’s sunniest countries makes a lot of sense and Perth-based Zenith Energy (ASX:ZEN) has now brought its latest solar power system on line.
The company’s unique battery-free hybrid solar-diesel system is now supplying power to Independence Group’s (ASX:IGO) Nova nickel-copper-cobalt operation in Western Australia’s Fraser Range region.
Zenith noted that besides exceeding performance targets for power output and energy efficiency, the plant had already delivered savings in diesel consumption of about 6,500 litres per day to Independence.
Zenith built, owns and operates the plant.
“The proprietary hybrid system developed by the company is able to seamlessly manage the fluctuations in solar PV energy production to provide smooth, reliable power, without the need for batteries to stabilise energy delivery to Nova,” managing director Hamish Moffat said.
“Batteries have their place in energy systems, but they are still expensive to deploy for these applications.
“Our unique, locally developed hybrid system eliminates the need for batteries and represents a major step forward in the capital cost optimisation, operating efficiency and environmental performance of solar PV hybrid energy systems in remote locations.”
Meanwhile, Genex Power (ASX:GNX) has achieved financial close for its 50 megawattt Jemalong solar project in New South Wales, which it acquired in March 2019.
Jemalong will produce enough electricity to power more than 23,000 Australian homes. Power generated from the plant will be sold into the National Electricity Market at spot prices.
Genex previously said the plant could start generating power in the 2020 calendar year.
In other ASX energy news today:
With the ongoing drilling success at the Wizard Lake oil field in Canada, it is unsurprising that Whitebark Energy (ASX:WBE) has executed an agreement to acquire the remaining 50 per cent interest in the project from Point Loma Resources.
