Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid Project

Reducing carbon emissions at two blue-chip iron ore mines with the delivery of gas-fired and solar-generated power

As part of their drive to reduce carbon emissions, Alinta Energy set out to power two mines in the Pilbara region of Western Australia through a gas-fired and solar-generated hybrid power solution. Our job? Engineering, procurement, and construction management on the execution phase in Pilbara.

The project consisted of 60 kilometers (37 miles) of 220 kilovolt power transmission line extension—with an associated 3 kilometers (2 miles) of 33 kilovolt and 11 kilovolt lines to connect existing power stations to the network—a 60 megawatt, single-axle solar farm (2 x 30 megawatt solar arrays), two substations, and associated control systems.

The project was both greenfield and brownfield with significant interfacing with varying third-party assets, including existing operational power stations and live mine sites. When we had to consider heritage-sensitive areas on the ground, we used helicopter conductor stringing to avoid access, and allow us to be respectful of these precious areas without diverting the required work.

With this combination of gas-fired and solar-generated power, two major iron ore mines are now operating with reduced carbon emissions and improved sustainability.