Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Sustainability
    Contract Award

    Northern Star–Zenith Energy renewables deal: power system notes for mine engineers

    December 4, 2025|

    Reviewed by Tom Sullivan

    Northern Star–Zenith Energy renewables deal: power system notes for mine engineers

    First reported on Australian Mining Review – News

    30 Second Briefing

    Northern Star Resources has signed a 25‑year power purchase agreement with Zenith Energy to develop the Eastern Goldfields power projects for the KCGM operations near Kalgoorlie, anchored by 256MW of wind, 138MW of solar and a 138MW/300MWh battery system, with commissioning targeted from mid‑2027. The solar farm will use more than 230,000 5B Maverick-mounted panels, while Goldwind turbines up to 150m high with 182m rotors will be installed about 10km from Kalgoorlie, taking Zenith’s contracted generation above 1.3GW. A parallel joint venture adds 120MW of Wärtsilä dual-fuel thermal generation and a 132kV transmission network, with RJE Global supplying transformers and EPC services.

    Technical Brief

    • Zenith will fully fund, build, own and operate all renewable facilities under the 25-year PPA.
    • Key design, engineering and procurement work has already commenced ahead of environmental and regulatory approvals.
    • The 138MW solar farm, using >230,000 panels, will be the largest at any Australian mine.
    • 5B’s Australian-manufactured Maverick platform enables rapid, modular solar deployment from its Adelaide production facility.
    • Goldwind turbines, sited ~10km outside Kalgoorlie, will be among Australia’s physically largest onshore machines.
    • Zenith will also own and operate the 138MW/300MWh BESS to firm and optimise renewable dispatch.
    • A separate JV delivers 120MW of thermal generation plus a new 132kV transmission network and substations.

    Our Take

    Within our 143 Mining stories, very few gold operations in WA’s Goldfields are pairing >250 MW of wind with large-scale batteries, so Northern Star’s Kalgoorlie-focused build-out positions it at the leading edge of decarbonisation among Australian precious metals producers.

    A 25-year, 120 MW thermal arrangement alongside 256 MW wind, 138 MW solar and 300 MWh of storage suggests Northern Star is locking in long-term power price and reliability in Kalgoorlie, which is likely to improve cost certainty versus peers still reliant on shorter-term gas or diesel contracts.

    Zenith Energy’s move to more than 1.3 GW of contracted generation with over 50% renewables indicates that WA miners like Northern Star are increasingly comfortable with high-penetration hybrid systems, which in our database are starting to displace traditional gas-only IPP models at remote Australian sites.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Young-Davidson mine disruptions: seismic and power impacts explained for engineers
    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Young-Davidson mine disruptions: seismic and power impacts explained for engineers

    Alamos Gold expects second-quarter output from its Young-Davidson underground mine in northern Ontario to fall to 130,000–135,000 oz, about 12% below prior guidance, after two seismic events damaged infrastructure and cut access to two higher-grade stopes, compounded by a three-day storm-related power outage. Consolidated 2026 production is now projected below full-year guidance with unit costs rising, with revised figures due in July. Production stability is shifting to the Island Gold District, where underground mining rates are planned to increase from 1,500 to 2,000 t/d and the Magino mill ramp-up targets 10,000 t/d by Q3.

    Trinity Metals’ 20% US tungsten supply: project scale and offtake notes for engineers
    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    Trinity Metals’ 20% US tungsten supply: project scale and offtake notes for engineers

    Trinity Metals has doubled exports from its Nyakabingo tungsten mine in Rwanda to Global Tungsten & Powders, now supplying up to 20% of US primary tungsten concentrate consumption, with more than 320 tonnes of 65–70% WO₃ wolframite shipped since a 2025 offtake deal with Traxys. The 1,600-hectare Nyakabingo concession holds an estimated 30,000 tonnes of recoverable tungsten, is licensed for 25 years from 2015, and is undergoing deep drilling to expand resources. Trinity plans to triple production and is targeting a $100–$200 million international listing, positioning Rwanda as a key conflict-free 3T supplier amid Chinese export restrictions.

    SMRs and mining’s nuclear reality check: key power-planning takeaways for engineers
    Mining
    about 11 hours ago

    SMRs and mining’s nuclear reality check: key power-planning takeaways for engineers

    Small and micro modular reactors (SMRs and microreactors) sit at the bottom of miners’ low‑carbon power options, despite intense promotion of 300 MW‑class SMRs, AI‑optimised reactor operations and bullish uranium price forecasts. Developers are pitching factory‑built, modular units for remote sites and off‑grid mines, but operators still prioritise proven renewables‑plus‑storage, grid power and gas or diesel hybrids. For mine planners and power engineers, nuclear remains a long‑term possibility rather than a near‑term procurement item for new pits, expansions or remote processing hubs.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy