Pacific Energy has entered into an agreement with Gold Fields to design and construct a 35-MW solar farm for the St Ives gold mine in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields region.
The solar farm forms part of Gold Fields' AUD 296 million St Ives Renewables Project, which also includes 42 MW of wind power. The project is expected to power the mine site using over 70% renewable energy and aims to cut the mine's carbon emissions by approximately 50% by 2030.
This initiative marks the first time Gold Fields has managed a renewables project internally. The solar farm will be Pacific Energy's largest commissioned array to date and will contribute to nearly half of the renewable energy target for the mine's power system.
Pacific Energy CEO Jamie Cullen emphasized the scalability of the solar design, allowing for future expansion. He noted that the company's expertise in mid-sized renewable energy systems makes it well-suited to projects like this, which support energy transitions while utilizing existing infrastructure. Cullen highlighted the importance of flexibility in the design, given the rapid pace of changes in renewable energy technology.
Construction on the solar farm is set to begin in November, with full operation expected by 2026.
