Bellevue Gold mine runs 155 hours on 100% renewable energy: solar, wind, and battery storage
electrek.coA gold mine in Australia ran for over 155 consecutive hours on 100% renewable energy, a milestone for decarbonizing heavy industry. The Bellevue Gold mine used a 90 MW hybrid power station with 27 MW of solar panels, 24 MW of wind turbines, and 15 MW (33 MWh) of battery storage to power operations for more than six days without fossil fuels. The system was originally designed to meet 80% of the site's energy needs, but the recent test shows it can go further under the right conditions. The mine is targeting net zero carbon gold production by 2026, and the project also involves a joint venture with the Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation, the traditional owners of the land. This is a concrete example of how renewables can replace diesel generation in off-grid industrial settings.