BHP has struck a renewable electricity deal for its South Australian copper operations.
The company has secured 100 megawatts of baseload power from Neoen’s Goyder North Wind Farm and Goyder Battery.
The 10-year agreement will supply the Olympic Dam mine, smelter and refinery, as well as the Carrapateena and Prominent Hill operations. Power will be firmed by the 200 MW/800 MWh Goyder Battery and managed through Neoen’s in-house energy trading capability.
Construction of the Goyder North Wind Farm and battery is expected to generate up to 550 construction jobs and 20 permanent positions in the state’s mid-north. Both assets are under development near Burra, with BHP as the primary customer.
The deal builds on BHP’s July 2025 arrangement with Neoen, which drew power from the Goyder South Stage 1 Wind Farm and Blyth Battery. Combined, the two supply contracts are forecast to meet about 70 per cent of Copper SA’s electricity demand from renewable sources by FY2030, based on current demand projections.
“BHP’s Copper SA operations are taking another step forward in our decarbonisation journey with its third renewable power arrangement,” said Anna Wiley, Asset President, Copper SA, BHP.
“We are using the size and scale of our copper operations to underpin significant new investment in renewable electricity in South Australia.
“Today’s announcement with Neoen will secure 100 megawatts of electricity by combining output from the Goyder North Wind Farm with storage from the Goyder Battery backed up by Neoen’s energy management expertise, helping to power our copper province.
“This arrangement reflects our commitment to more sustainable operations and long-term partnerships. Together with our initial arrangement with Neoen, we expect to be able to meet about 70 per cent of Copper SA’s electricity needs from renewable electricity in FY2030.”
BHP has now supported five major renewable energy projects in South Australia, including Neoen’s Goyder North and South wind farms, the Goyder and Blyth batteries, and Iberdrola’s Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park.
“As global demand for copper continues to grow, BHP is making significant progress in lowering the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of our copper production in South Australia,” said Michiel Hovers, Group Sales and Marketing Officer, BHP.
Neoen Australia’s CEO Jean-Christophe Cheylus said the agreement demonstrated the company’s capability to deliver “customised energy solutions that can meet the growing demands of its customers and support the pace of Australia’s transition”.