Advancing Decarbonisation and Reducing the Mine’s Scope 2 CO2 emissions by 40% Annually
Idemitsu Australia has installed and is operating a 5 MW solar farm at the Boggabri Coal Mine to partially replace the mine’s grid electricity usage, supporting Idemitsu’s decarbonisation targets and contributing to a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
Having been successfully commissioned in late September 2025, the solar facility has commenced full-scale generation of up to 5 MW of renewable energy for the mine during daylight hours, expected to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 5,000 tons in its first year of operation. The project reduces Boggabri Mine’s Scope 2 CO2 emissions from electricity used by 40% annually and aligns with Idemitsu’s long-term target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, marking an important milestone in minimising the environmental impact of its operations.
Idemitsu Australia CEO, Steve Kovac, said, “By integrating a significant solar energy source, our Boggabri mine is setting a new industry benchmark, helping to reduce emissions while improving operational efficiency. This is an exciting project which demonstrates our ongoing commitment to decarbonisation, sustainable energy solutions and supports the mining sector’s transition to renewable power.”
The next phase of the project, following the solar farm completion, will involve the integration of a 12.6 MWh vanadium flow battery (VFB), which has been approved for installation.
Once operational, the VFB will be the largest of its kind in Australia, providing up to 6.3 hours of energy storage. Scheduled for completion in late 2026, the VFB will optimise the energy output from the solar farm, enabling the mine to operate more sustainably while reducing grid reliance.
As the first mining industry VFB installation in Australia, the project will demonstrate the capability of VFBs as medium and long duration energy storage solutions, allowing the capture of excess renewable energy during the day and delivering it in the evening when energy demand from the grid is high and supply is predominantly fossil fuel driven. This provides a dual benefit for the Boggabri mine through energy efficiency and a reduction in carbon emissions.
Idemitsu is also contributing to the regional economy, with the solar farm and VFB projects creating local employment opportunities during both construction and operation. These initiatives underscore Idemitsu’s commitment to the clean energy transition and driving both environmental and economic progress in the mining sector.