Zenith Energy has entered an agreement with Lynas Rare Earths to design, build, own, operate and maintain a hybrid power station at Lynas’ Mt Weld mine in Western Australia. The total installed capacity of the Mt Weld power station upon completion will be approximately 65 megawatts.
The Mt Weld hybrid power station will include a 24-MW wind farm (four wind turbines), 7-MW solar PV farm, and a 12-MW/12-MWh battery energy storage system. The facility will be supported by a 17-MW, high-efficiency, gas-fired power station, with 5-MW of standby diesel generation.
“As a leading provider of sustainable energy solutions to the Australian resources market Zenith is pleased to be working with Lynas, the world’s only significant producer of separated rare earth materials outside of China, on the high renewable energy fraction hybrid power solution to their Mt Weld operations,” said Zenith CEO and Managing Director Hamish Moffat.
“The signing of the Mt Weld hybrid power station power purchase agreement represents a significant milestone for Zenith Energy, with our contracted wind capacity now exceeding 100 MW. Zenith look forward to enabling Lynas to deliver on their productivity and decarbonisation objectives.”
The agreement is for a 15-year term, starting from the commercial operation of the wind farm, planned for 2026. The diesel and gas facilities should be finished in the first half of 2025, with solar and BESS being installed progressively, with full operation anticipated in 2026.
The Mt Weld power station has been designed to run “engine-off” during periods of high renewable energy production and achieve an average annual renewable energy percentage of up to 70%.
Zenith has already commenced early construction works at the Mt Weld site, having entered into preliminary and early works agreements with Lynas in 2023.
Source: Zenith Energy