Australian Gold Mine Runs 101 Hours on 100% Renewables

Deep in the Australian outback, a gold mine just proved what many thought impossible. The Bellevue Gold Project powered all its operations for more than four straight days using nothing but sunshine, wind, and batteries.

The milestone happened during late 2025, when the remote facility hit 101 consecutive hours of 100% renewable energy. That's enough time to crush ore, process gold, and keep the lights on without burning a single drop of diesel or gas.

The secret lies in Bellevue's hybrid power system, which combines 27MW of solar panels with 24MW of wind turbines and a massive battery bank. The setup serves an average load of 12MW, enough to power about 12,000 homes while supporting round-the-clock mining operations.

What makes this even more impressive is the technology behind it. The mine uses 528 of 5B's prefabricated "Maverick" solar arrays, which unfold like accordions and install with minimal human labor. These modular units were designed specifically for remote locations where traditional solar farms struggle.

Zenith Energy operates the power station under a long-term agreement with Bellevue. Together, they've achieved quarterly renewable penetration rates averaging 87.8%, with some months exceeding 90% when wind conditions are favorable.

The previous off-grid mining record stood at 84 hours, set just months earlier in September 2025. Bellevue's achievement pushes the boundary another 20% higher.

The Ripple Effect

This breakthrough matters far beyond one gold mine. Mining accounts for massive energy consumption worldwide, and most operations rely heavily on diesel generators in remote areas. Bellevue's success proves the technology exists right now to transform the industry.

The company has already achieved net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions for 2025, claiming to be the first gold mine globally to reach this milestone. They're combining on-site renewable generation with carbon offsets for emissions they can't yet eliminate.

Other Australian mines are watching closely. Pacific Energy recently completed a 61MW solar-wind hybrid at the Tropicana gold mine, creating the country's largest off-grid hybrid system. Zenith and 5B have partnered on more than 400MW of remote power projects across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

The Maverick technology that made this possible recently won backing from Australia's $670 million Solar Sunshot Program. The government recognized that these prefabricated arrays solve a crucial problem: bringing large-scale solar to places where conventional installations are too expensive or impractical.

For an industry often associated with environmental concerns, gold mining is showing it can lead the clean energy transition instead of following behind.