Renewables

Renewable energy

Working towards net zero by 2050.

 

At BHP, we’re reducing the greenhouse emissions in our mining operations as we work towards net zero by 2050. 

 

It’s happening now.

In Chile, our operations are on track to be powered by 100% renewable energy by the middle of the decade, displacing more than 3 million tonnes of CO2 per year from 2022 onwards; the equivalent of the annual emissions of around 700,000 combustion engine cars. 

By 2024, renewable power for BHP’s Nickel West Kwinana Refinery from the Merredin Solar Farm, the largest solar farm in Western Australia, will reduce emissions from electricity use at the refinery by up to 50 per cent, based on FY2024 levels.

Man on site

Low emissions sources, including solar and wind, will soon supply half of the energy needs of our BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) mines, helping to reduce emissions from electricity use by 50 per cent by 2025, based on FY2020 levels.

And the Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park, which will be Australia’s largest solar-wind hybrid plant, will help reduce BHP’s Olympic Dam emissions position to zero for 50 per cent of its electricity consumption by 2025, based on current forecast demand.

But there is still much more we are doing to reduce greenhouse missions.

As a member of the International Council of Mining and Metals' (ICMM) Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles Initiative, BHP is collaborating across the industry with the aim of introducing zero emissions surface mining vehicles by 2040.

In January 2021, we announced a partnership with Toyota Australia for a new Light Electric Vehicle (LEV) trial at our Nickel West operations in Australia. Longer-term, we plan to work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on electric haul trucks, as well as innovative ways to use conveyors and trolley assist technology.

In its Sustainable Development Scenario, the International Energy Agency estimates annual investment in clean energy and electricity networks must increase to US$2.7 trillion by 2030, three times the equivalent investment in 2019.

That rises by a further trillion dollars to almost US$4 trillion annually in the 2030s.

And at BHP, we will not shy away from playing our part by continuing to sustainably and responsibly produce the resources essential to build a better world.

The future of a net zero carbon world is clear. It’s happening now at BHP.

 

Wind turbine

The future of renewable energy is clear. 

The transition to renewable energy will rely on essential resources like the copper, nickel and iron ore produced by BHP.