The Albanese Government is making the Olympic Dam Mine cleaner and creating jobs by supporting a wind farm and big battery project in South Australia.
The Clean Energy Finance Corporation is investing $99 million to boost Neoen’s Goyder wind farm – which will provide electricity to BHP’s big copper mine in the northern part of the state.
Olympic Dam is a significant copper mine located 550 km north-northwest of Adelaide, and it has one of the largest copper deposits in the world.
This cleaner and cheaper renewable power will be backed up by Neoen’s Blyth Battery, which is located nearby.
Once completed, the wind farm will generate 203 MW of electricity, and the battery will store 477 MWh – that’s enough to help meet half of Olympic Dam mine’s electricity needs with clean cheap power.
Copper is critical for clean energy manufacturing, with copper being essential for making wind turbines, batteries, and solar panels.
Increasingly, mining and resources companies are investing in firmed renewables to help power their operations with more affordable and clean power.
The project will create more than 400 jobs during the construction of the wind farm and 40 at the Blyth Battery.
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said the project is important for the South Australian clean energy and resources sectors.
“It’s great to see clean energy powering mining – bringing together key national industrial strengths in renewables and resources, while creating jobs,” said Minister Bowen.
“The Albanese Government is excited to support a project that involves three vital things for Australia’s future – wind power, batteries, and strategic materials.”
Blyth Battery is the fifth big battery project financed by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, bringing their total investment in this technology to over $390 million.
