A groundbreaking 26-megawatt hybrid renewable energy system has begun full operations at a New South Wales mine site, marking the first time an off-grid solar and battery system has powered a mining operation in the state.

The pioneering project at Tronox's Atlas–Campaspe mineral sands mine near Hatfield represents a significant milestone in Australia's mining industry transition towards cleaner energy, delivering up to 40 per cent renewable power whilst dramatically reducing diesel dependency.

The innovative system has replaced 41 distributed diesel generators that previously powered the mine, reducing annual carbon emissions by around 13,000 tonnes and displacing nearly five million litres of diesel each year.

The comprehensive hybrid power solution combines multiple technologies:

• 11-megawatt solar farm providing clean daytime power
• 3MW/6MWh battery energy storage system for power stability and storage
• 12MW of diesel generation for backup power
• 13 kilometres of high-voltage powerlines connecting the components

The system has the potential to operate in "hydrocarbons-off mode" most days, meaning the mine could run entirely on renewable energy during optimal conditions.

This capability represents a significant advancement in mining industry sustainability, demonstrating that large-scale industrial operations can successfully integrate substantial renewable energy components.

Western Australia-based Pacific Energy announced the project's completion on Monday, describing it as an "important step" in the off-grid power system specialist's expansion to Australia's east coast.

The company has extensive experience in weaning remote mine sites off diesel and other fossil fuels, with the vast majority of their pioneering work conducted in Western Australia, including one of Australia's biggest off-grid hybrid renewable energy projects at Gold Fields' St Ives mine south of Kalgoorlie.

"The Atlas-Campaspe system is the first we've delivered in NSW and marks an important step in our operational expansion on Australia's east coast," Pacific Energy stated in their announcement.

The project team and client achieved full operational status on Friday, July 18 after safely and successfully testing the system's functionality on the mine site's operating processing plant.

The successful testing phase demonstrates the reliability and integration capabilities of hybrid renewable systems in demanding industrial environments, particularly important for continuous mining operations that require stable, uninterrupted power supply.

This NSW milestone follows a growing trend across Australia's mining sector towards renewable energy adoption, driven by both environmental commitments and economic benefits.

The substantial diesel displacement – nearly five million litres annually – represents significant cost savings alongside the environmental benefits.

The project's success could accelerate similar deployments across NSW and other states, as mining companies seek to reduce operational costs and meet increasingly stringent environmental targets.

The 13-kilometre high-voltage powerline network represents sophisticated infrastructure planning, enabling the integration of distributed renewable generation with existing mine operations.

The battery storage component provides crucial grid stability services, smoothing out solar intermittency and ensuring consistent power delivery to critical mining equipment.

The system's design allows for flexible operation modes, from full renewable generation during optimal solar conditions to hybrid operation when weather or operational demands require additional power from diesel generators.

This achievement positions NSW as an emerging leader in mining sector renewable energy integration, potentially attracting further investment in clean technology solutions for resource industries across the state.

The Atlas–Campaspe mine is located near Hatfield in NSW and operates as a mineral sands extraction facility under Tronox's ownership.