Powering the Pilbara with the Port Hedland solar and battery project

APA Group, a leading Australian energy infrastructure business, has entered into a large-scale renewable Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with one of the world's largest resources companies to supply renewable energy for BHP's port operations in the Pilbara, Western Australia.

The PPA will see the construction and connection of a 45 MW solar farm and a 35 MW / 36.7 MWh BESS to APA Group's existing Port Hedland power station, located approximately 14 km from the resources company's port facilities. The construction commenced in January 2023, with the installations expected to become operational in late 2024.

Given the project site's proximity to the northwest Australian coastline, it is classified as Category D Cyclonic according to the Australian Standard AS/NZS 1170.2:2021 Structural Design Actions Part 2 Wind Actions. The classification system for wind regions in Australia ranges from A to D, with Category D representing the most severe cyclonic conditions, experiencing design wind speeds up to 288 km/h. A critical focus was placed on meeting the design criteria and engineering specifications of the installations, as well as complying with safety and structural integrity standards.

To effectively navigate these requirements and integrate the specific design and engineering nuances associated with solar farm and BESS installations in the Pilbara region within the tight project timeframes, APA Group engaged GHD as the owner's engineer for the construction phase of this project. 

With extensive experience and a proven track record in delivering owner's engineering services for numerous renewable energy and energy storage projects in the Pilbara and across Western Australia, we have been uniquely positioned to provide support to APA Group during the Port Hedland solar and battery project development.

Our team have worked with APA Group, providing comprehensive assistance throughout the project's implementation. Our services have included:

• Design reviews
• Technical assistance
• Technical representation
• Site inspections
• Commissioning support

Our close alignment with APA Group's team has enabled us to promptly address key project queries and assist in their compliance with the design and engineering requirements. 

The delivery of the Port Hedland Solar and BESS project, as part of the PPA between APA Group and BHP, marks a significant step towards renewable energy adoption in the Pilbara region and an important milestone in progressing the resource company's decarbonisation strategy. This includes a medium-term target to reduce operational emissions by at least 30 percent from FY2020 levels by 2030 and the long-term objective of achieving net zero operational emissions by 2050.

Upon completion, approximately 100 per cent of the forecasted average daytime energy requirements for the resource company's port facilities will be powered by solar generation. The remaining power requirements will be met through the integrated BESS and APA Group's existing gas-fuelled power station facilities, delivering a reliable energy supply for industrial operations.

As the owner's engineer, our team has played a key role to make sure that the design and construction of the Port Hedland solar farm and BESS meets the stringent requirements of APA Group and BHP, underscoring our commitment to supporting Australia's transition to a greener energy future. Once operational, the Port Hedland Solar and BESS project is expected to be the first large-scale renewable facility in a Category D region.