PWR, Iluka strike power purchase deal

Renewable energy player PWR Hybrid has finalised a 10-year power supply deal with Iluka Resources to be generated from its recently approved 9.434-megawatt solar farm.

Perth-based PWR Hybrid finalised agreements with the miner to supply renewable energy from an approved solar facility neighbouring Iluka’s Cataby mineral sands mine, 170 kilometres north of Perth.

It comes after PWR’s plans to build the $19 million solar photovoltaic facility on a 29-hectare lot within Iluka’s mining tenement package in Cataby was given the green light last month.

The Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel unanimously approved PWR’s project, which would include 16,704 PV modules, a substation compound, a meteorological station, and underground cabling to connect into the Cataby substation.

Under the 10-year deal, the solar facility will provide about 30 per cent of the mine site’s power requirements and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 12,000 tCO2e per annum, according to PWR.

Ryan Green-led PWR will build, own and operate the 9.434MW solar facility, which will integrate with the existing Western Power network.

Construction is expected to commence in February 2024.

PWR was recently acquired by US-based funds manager I Square Capital, which focuses on global infrastructure investments.

The Perth-run company is now wholly owned by the Miami-headquartered funds manager.