Hybrid solar power system for remote Chilean gold mine
Power equipment supplier Aggreko has signed a contract with mining operator Gold Fields to provide 26 MW of hybrid solar and thermal power to the Salares Norte open pit mine in Chile.
The solution has been designed to provide power for the entire mine, which sits at an altitude of 4,500 m in the Andes mountain range and is 190 km from the nearest town.
The system is made up of high-altitude performance diesel gensets and Aggreko Solar Power units, optimised for off-grid operation and ready to withstand the extreme wind conditions in the region. The gensets will each deliver 772 kW and will incorporate spinning reserve and cold reserve units to manage peaks in demand. The diesel generation system will be integrated with solar units which, once installed, will provide 9.9 MW of power.
The system will supply power across all five of the mine’s distribution points, whilst surpassing Gold Fields’ requirement for a minimum of 20% renewable power generation for mining operations.
News Item details
Journal title: Energy World
Countries: Chile -
Organisation: Aggreko
Subjects: Solar thermal, Solar power
