Barrick-operated Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) has now completed the construction of the second and final phase of a 200 MW solar power plant, with the capability of producing 17% of NGM’s annual power demand while realising a reduction of 234,000 t/y of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
Mark Bristow, President and Chief Executive of Barrick, says the solar facility would reduce NGM’s total annual greenhouse gas emissions by 8% against a 2018 baseline.
He said: “The solar facility is one of many initiatives to reduce our reliance on carbon-based electricity sources. We are also taking steps to modify the TS Power Plant to use cleaner-burning natural gas as a future fuel source. Additionally, in 2023, we began introducing electric vehicles to our light vehicle fleet, which included the required charging infrastructure in Elko and at the main mines Carlin, Cortez, Turquoise Ridge and Phoenix, as well as the TS Power Plant.”
With the second 100 MW phase of the TS Solar Power plant now online and performance testing fully completed, NGM is shifting its focus to installation of solar and battery energy storage (BESS) at the operations. NGM was recently awarded $95 million in funding from the US Department of Energy to develop additional solar facilities with BESS at the Turquoise Ridge and Cortez mine sites. These will serve as a secondary power source, mitigating the impacts of power grid disruption and enhancing renewable energy consumption during off-peak hours.
In addition to the TS Power Plant conversion to co-fire capability, NGM is furthering studies into geothermal energy sources.
NGM kicked off construction of the 200 MW TS Solar Power plant back in 2022.
