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Renewables

How is WA mining and resources tackling global warming?

WA’s mining and resources sector is working hard to reduce its carbon emissions, including transitioning from diesel generation to renewable power on site, introducing and developing electric vehicles and machinery, and investing in new clean energy sources. The state also produces many of the battery minerals that are needed for the world to achieve net zero.

What is net zero and why do we need to get there?

Net zero is the target of completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity, to be achieved by reducing emissions and implementing methods of absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

A carbon emission is carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere, often as the result of human activity such as burning of fossil fuels. Build-up of CO2 is a major factor in global warming.

Net zero is important because international scientific consensus is that achieving it by or before 2050 is needed to limit the impact of climate change.

Australia’s commitment 

The Albanese Government’s Climate Change Bill 2022 enshrined into law an emissions reduction target of 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The renewables equation

Renewable energy, derived from sources that don’t run out, is a fundamental aspect of the pathway to the world reducing its carbon emissions and achieving net zero.

Research published by Net Zero Australia in August 2022 suggested Australia would need about 40 times the total generation capacity of today’s national electricity market in renewables, including an estimated 1900 GW of solar photovoltaic, to deliver on its net zero ambitions by 2050.

The road for mining and resources

The WA mining and resources sector is committed to the Paris Agreement and its goal of limiting global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, by reducing emissions to net zero as soon as possible and no later than 2050.

To achieve this the sector is investing in the new energies, technologies and fuels we need to deliver the emissions reductions required to meet Australia’s net zero targets.

Hydrogen – A future fuel

Catherine Simon is a Senior Process Engineer in Woodside’s New Energy Team, and CME’s 2023 Renewables Ambassador.

Catherine discusses how Woodside’s hydrogen projects help support a lower carbon future, and highlights the importance of Woodside’s partnerships with universities & start-ups to find and develop the necessary sustainable technologies to meet global demand.

Producing commodities to help the world

BHP Nickel West climate change specialist Samantha Langley discusses how her company is producing nickel sulphate for global electric vehicle battery markets at its state-of-the-art Kwinana refinery.

Different types of renewables

On-site renewables

A wide range of WA mining and resources companies are investing in renewable energy to provide power they need for their operations. For example, Gold Fields’ Agnew gold mine, 375km north of Kalgoorlie, is home to Australia’s biggest hybrid renewable energy microgrid.

On-site renewables

New technology

Electric vehicles aren’t just poised to take over our suburban streets, they could be set to become the dominant mode of transport at WA mine sites as well. Already there are a range of light vehicles (such as utes) using electricity rather than diesel on site, and there are also electric underground mining trucks being trialled.

New technology

New fuels

The WA mining and resources sector is exploring a range of options for zero emissions fuels of the future to power equipment, machinery and other aspects of operations. Renewable hydrogen is perhaps the most high-profile of these potential fuels.

New fuels

How WA is mining for a renewable future

Nickel

Nickel has been a staple of the WA mining and resources sector since it was discovered around Kambalda in 1964. Australia is the world's FIFTH-LARGEST nickel producer and WA has 96 per cent of its resources. For most of the nearly 60 years since, WA nickel has been primarily used in the process of making steel. But in recent years it’s taken on a new life, as a key ingredient in electric vehicle batteries. WA’s biggest nickel producers, BHP Nickel West, entered into a supply agreement with Tesla in 2021.

Nickel

Lithium

Australian is the LARGEST lithium-producing country in the world and WA produces 99 per cent of national output, with our hard-rock spodumene being the preferred starting point for battery manufacturing. While lithium has a wide range of uses, its most high-profile current one might be in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries in electric cars. Ford and Tesla are among the major car manufacturers to sign offtake deals with WA lithium producers.

Lithium

Rare Earths

Rare earths aren’t quite as scarce as their name might imply. But they are difficult to find in exploitable deposits and essential for permanent magnets that help make wind turbines and electric vehicle motors work. Australia is the world’s SECOND-LARGEST producer of rare earths behind China, and WA is leading the way in both mining and refining them.

Rare Earths

Bauxite

Bauxite has been mined and refined in significant volumes in WA’s South West since the 1860s, with both Alcoa and South32 being globally important producers. Most people will be familiar with the product ultimately derived from those operations– aluminium – and its use in cans, foil, kitchen utensils, window frames and aircraft parts. Perhaps lesser known is that aluminium is an absolutely essential component of solar installations, by some estimates accounting for more than 85 per cent of solar photovoltaic components.

Bauxite

Silicon

Deep in the South West of WA lies Australia’s only silicon manufacturing company, Simcoa, which produces more than 52,000 tonnes each year of a globally vital commodity. Silicon is used to improve the strength of alumium alloys, to make semi-conductor chips for computer equipment and as a major ingredient in optical glass found in cameras. But one of its biggest roles is as a semi-conductor in solar panels, where its corrosion resistance, durability and good photoconductivity are highly prized.

Silicon

Other minerals used in renewables that are mined in WA

Iron Ore

Iron Ore

Nearly all iron ore is turned into steel, a key component of wind turbines.

Cobalt

Cobalt

Without it batteries would be prone to overheating and have shorter lifespans.

Graphite

Graphite

The primary material used in anodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Vanadium

Vanadium

Projected to be a starting point for industrial batteries of the future.

Copper

Copper

Up to four times more copper is needed for EVs compared to internal combustion engines.

Take the renewables quiz

Answer these 10 questions to find out how much you know about the changing face of global energy technologies.

Which Australian state or territory is classified as running on 100% renewable energy electricity?
Which is the biggest source of renewable energy worldwide?
What sort of energy drives the generator of a wind turbine?
Which of these is not a type of renewable energy?
How many parts in a wind turbine?
In 2021 how much of Australia's energy consumption derived from renewable sources?
According to studies, how many countries could run entirely on wind, solar and water power by 2050?
When did the first human-carrying electric vehicle hit the road?
Which of the following accounts for the most energy use in a home?
Which is the fastest growing source of renewable energy?
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Read more about renewables

Interesting renewable projects from around the world

Agnew Gold Mine (Northern Goldfields)

Gold Fields’ hybrid renewable energy microgrid is a shining example of the potential of renewables on WA mine site. The biggest of its kind in Australia, it’s capable of providing 70 to 80 per cent of the site’s power needs in the right conditions and the company says the focus on emissions-reduction helps it both recruit and retain staff. Switching Agnew on was forecast to be the equivalent of taking 12,700 cars of the road each year.  

Vatajankoski power plant (Finland)

It might not be much to look at but this silo is at the heart of what is likely the world’s first commercial sand battery in Finland. Cheap electricity, generated by solar panels or wind turbines, is used to power a heat exchanger that then takes the sand to temperatures between 500 and 600 degrees celsius – a temperature that can be held for months. While the idea is better suited to colder climates that require “district heating”, Australian company 1414 Degrees is developing similar technology for use here.

London Array (United Kingdom)

Opened in 2013, this 175-turbine installation 20km off the coast in the Thames Estuary was the world’s biggest offshore wind farm for more than five years. Intended to reduce carbon emissions by about 900,000 tons – equal to taking 300,000 passenger cars off the road – London Array was 12 years in the planning and making. As these photos show, it’s quite a sight for anyone flying into London City Airport.

Chichester Hub (Pilbara)

Fortescue Metals Group has set a target of being carbon neutral by 2030 and the massive solar installation at its Chichester Hub operations will help it get there. The 60MW solar farm powers up to 100 per cent of daytime operations at the Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak sites, and has been forecast to displace up to 100 million litres of diesel every year.

Copenhill (Denmark)

Now this is versatility! Copenhagen plans to become the world’s first carbon-neutral city by 2025 and CopenHill is a giant monument to that. Operational since 2017 as a heat and power waste-to-energy plant, CopenHill is 85m high and generates enough clean heat and electricity from otherwise unrecyclable waste to power 150,000 homes. Its sloped roof is also home to a ski slope and hiking trail!

Smart Palms (Dubai)

When you live in a desert with plenty of sunshine and not much rainfall, it pays to be smart with your tree planting. In the case of Dubai, these Smart Palms don’t have foliage as such but the solar panels at the end of the branches supply complimentary wifi, charging stations and shade for beach and park-goers.

The Geysers (California)

It doesn’t necessarily look pretty, but man is it functional. The Geysers, in California’s Sonoma and Lake counties, comprise the world’s largest geothermal field – drawing steam from more than 350 wells to drive some 18 geothermal power plants. The Geysers produced about 20 per cent of California’s renewable energy in 2019 and can generate 725MW of electricity, enough to power a city the size of San Francisco (815,000 people).

How solar panels work

From a scientific perspective, solar power relies on photons, or particles of light, knocking electrons free from atoms to generate a flow of electricity. This occurs when the sun shines onto a solar panel and energy is absorbed into the panel’s photovoltaic cells. A key ingredient in these cells is silicon, a commodity produced in WA’s South West.

The electricity generated is managed through inverters, which convert it to usable power – which can either be stored in a battery for later use or used straight away.

How wind turbines work

As their name might suggest, wind turbine blades rely on the movement of air to rotate. It doesn’t have to be particularly strong winds, with 12-14km/h enough to get the blades moving and start to generate electricity. However, speeds of around 50-60km/h will enable systems to generate a full capacity.

The mechanical apparatus of wind turbines are housed in a large casing known as a nacelle, which can weigh hundreds of tons. Kinetic energy created when the blades rotate is transferred to a generator which generates electricity. Similar to solar power, electricity created by wind can either be used immediately or stored via a battery.

How green hydrogen is made

Green Hydrogen is made by using electrolysis.  Electrolysis is the process of using electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

To generate the electricity for green hydrogen only renewables can be used. Hydrogen can be stored much the same way we do now with natural gas.

Hydrogen can be added directly to existing gas infrastructure for electricity generation and household heating.

Hydrogen can also be converted to ammonia for export or liquefied for use in fuel cells in heavy-duty vehicles such as trucks and bulk carriers.

Yara Pilbara is building a green hydrogen plant at its globally-significant operation on the Burrup Peninsula, while ATCO is developing a hydrogen production facility at the Warradarge Wind Farm in the Mid West.

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