BHP Billiton signs Solar Agreement to supply Power to Kwinana Nickel Refinery

According to recent reports, BHP Billiton has signed a renewable energy purchase agreement (PPA), to meet 50 per cent of its electricity needs through the Kwinana nickel refinery at Merredin Solar Farm in Western Australia. The deal will help BHP reduce refinery electricity consumption by as much as 50 per cent by 2024, based on fiscal year 2020.

The term of the agreement with Risen Energy is 10 years from February 1, 2021. This will effectively replace an estimated 364000 tons of carbon dioxide O2e during the validity of the contract. This is equivalent to removing 11200 internal combustion engine cars from the state's roads each year. This is the first renewable energy PPA, signed by BHP in Western Australia and complies with BHP's renewable energy agreements covering operations in Queensland in 2020 and Chile in 2019.

"this contract will further improve the sustainability of nickel produced by Nickel West," said the president of BHP assets. This will reduce refineries' electricity emissions by 50%, diversify our energy supply and reduce refineries' electricity bills. The Nickel West nickel plant is already one of the most sustainable nickel producers in the world, but has pledged to further significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions.