Global miner BHP says it has made advances in renewable electricity self-supply and storage at its Escondida and Spence copper mining operations in Chile. The new agreements will allow BHP to maintain a 100% renewable electricity supply at Escondida and Spence and support their long-term growth.
BHP has signed long-term agreements with Sungrow, a global renewable energy technology provider, to develop renewable energy projects at its Escondida and Spence operations in Chile. These initiatives are designed to complement the renewable energy sourcing strategy at these operations, strengthening the resilience of the electricity supply directly at the point of consumption. Together, the projects aim to develop 110 MW of solar capacity and 110 MW/540 MWh of battery storage at Escondida, and 85 MW of solar capacity and 85 MW/420 MWh of storage at Spence.
These projects will enable renewable self-sufficiency in electricity at Escondida and Spence, integrated directly into the consumption of operations, and are expected to be operational from fiscal year 2029, providing new capacity to maintain a 100% renewable electricity supply as demand associated with copper production grows.
“By placing generation directly at the point of consumption, we strengthen the resilience and efficiency of our operations’ energy supply and support the country’s energy transition by reducing pressure and congestion on the electrical system,” said Adam Favero, Vice President of Development and Strategic Services at BHP.
These new agreements reinforce BHP’s commitment to advancing secure, reliable, and more sustainable energy solutions, and demonstrate the value of working with global technology providers to respond to the evolving needs of our business. BHP’s operations in Chile achieved 100% renewable electricity supply in fiscal year 2022. This was achieved through long-term renewable supply agreements in Chile, contributing to the decarbonisation of the electricity system as a whole.
“We are pleased to leverage BHP’s global scale and engage partners across its ecosystem to support our operational decarbonisation efforts as we grow,” said Ian Oxley, Vice President of Sourcing for Minerals Americas at BHP.
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