Renewable energy company Juwi is in the final stages of commissioning a large solar hybrid project, in Egypt, comprising a 36 MW solar farm and 7.5 MW battery storage system.

The solar farm and battery storage, which is powering Centamin’s Sukari gold mine, have been integrated into an existing diesel power station.

The renewable energy components of the system help the mine save up to 70 000 ℓ/d of diesel and reduce diesel consumption by 22-million litres a year. Additionally, the system is lowering carbon emissions by about 60 000 t/y of carbon dioxide emissions.

Juwi MD and COO Stephan Hansen says the system demonstrates the key role of renewable energies in decarbonising the resource sector, especially since it is already delivering savings ahead of expectations.

The company also built the world’s first utility-scale solar-battery hybrid project at the DeGrussa copper mine, in Australia, and more hybrid projects in Australia and Africa.

Hansen says the Sukari plant is providing a new benchmark for power systems at mines in Africa and internationally.