BHP, Risen Energy increase solar PPA for Aussie nickel ops

• Melbourne-based resources firm BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) has increased to 50 MW the gotten off-take capacity from the 132-MW DC Merredin solar farm in Western Australia.

The just recently authorized power purchasing contract (PPA) with Risen Energy Australia will certainly currently cover the output from 50 MW of the solar farm's capability, instead of the at first agreed 30 MW, Risen Energy claimed on Tuesday. The period of the contract has been maintained 10 years.

The additional 30 MW will certainly cover the electricity needs of BHP Nickel West's Kalgoorlie smelter as well as reduced the business's Scope 2 emissions by 30%. Products commenced on August 1. As of February 1, BHP Nickel West is already obtaining electrical energy from the Merredin park that will certainly assist it reduce the Kwinana nickel refinery's exhausts from electricity use by approximately 50% by 2024.

"This is another example of the actions we are requiring to decrease emissions across our procedures-- 30 per cent by 2030 and net zero by 2050. Sustainable reduced carbon nickel is essential for our battery and electric vehicle consumers," said BHP Nickel West property head of state Jessica Farrell

The Merredin solar farm was addicted to the grid in the summer of 2020. The yearly result of its 354,452 photovoltaic (PV) panels is estimated at 274 GWh.