Deployment of a wind farm with battery storage system at Raglan Mine

The project consists of constructing and operating of 30 Enercon E-82 wind turbines of 3 MW each for a maximum power of 90 MW (megawatts). This project will enable a maximum total power of 96 MW including, the two existing wind turbines.

The deployment of the wind turbines will be done in phases. The first two phases could include the installation of 12 wind turbines. Six (6) could be installed in 2025-2026 and six (6) other possibly in 2027- 2028. Depending on the combined performance of these 12 wind turbines and the two existing ones,
subsequent phases could occur to install 18 more with turbines.
The wind turbines will be erected on levelled and compacted platforms of approximately 100 x 100 m. The tower is almost 80 m high and is made of recyclable steel. The blades are made of fiberglass with a length of about 40 m. The base of the wind turbine mast has a diameter of 5 m, while the base of the wind turbine seat has a diameter of 15 m. One (1) building will be installed to house a 35 to
25 kV step-down transformer.
The energy storage system will consist of a bi-directional system of Li-on batteries. For the first twelve (12) wind turbines, the storage system will have a capacity of 10 MW and 10 MWh. The system will have a capacity of 10 MW and 10 MWh. The system will be assembled in 20 ft containers. Storage requirements will be adapted for the subsequent phases of adding wind turbines. These batteries will be used to compensate for the energy fluctuations of the wind turbines. They will be sized so that a sudden loss of the energy produced by the wind turbines does not affect the stability of the network. These batteries do not contain any liquid; the anodes and cathodes are metallic. The analysis of alternative locations for the battery storage system is underway to minimize the creation of new footprints.

The current 25 kV network cannot support adding energy production and storage. Thus, it is planned to build a new 35 kV production network and maintain the 25 kV distribution network to supply active mines and surface facilities. The wind turbines and battery storage system will be connected to the electrical grid through a 35 kV teak-type wiring network installed directly on the ground. The analysis of route variants is currently underway to minimize distances and create new footprints.