Deal: DLA Piper has advised the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on a $13.5 million funding project for a high-pedestrian renewable microgrid by Agnew Gold Mining Company Pty Ltd, part of the Gold Fields Group.

Value: $13.5 million

Area: Energy and mining

Key players: Finance and projects partner Kate Papailiou led the DLA Piper team, with foreign legal associate Kim Eichorn and solicitor Patrick Baisden.

Deal significance: The renewable hybrid microgrid at the Agnew Gold Mine in Western Australia will be powered by a wind, solar, battery and gas microgrid. According to the DLA Piper statement, it is the first Australian mine to be powered this way.

The hybrid microgrid will consist of five turbines delivering an 18MW wind farm and a 10,000 panel 4MW solar farm, in addition to a 13MW/4MWh battery energy storage system (BESS). It will have the security and reliability of the microgrid underpinned by a 16MW gas engine power station.

Distributed energy producer EDL will design, construct, own and operate the microgrid to power the Agnew Gold Mine in two stages. It will do so under a 10-year agreement with Gold Fields. The first stage is due to be completed in mid-2019.

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Ms Papailiou said: “This project marks an exciting shift in the future of renewables in the mining and resources sector, and we are delighted to have advised ARENA on the funding for this microgrid. ARENA’s significant contribution to projects like this means more companies in the sector will be encouraged to follow suit.”

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