Technology group Wärtsilä will supply the engines, controls, and auxiliary equipment for a new 120 MW power plant in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The contract has been placed by Australian Independent Power Producer (IPP) Zenith Energy Operations. The plant is expanding the power supply of one of Australia’s largest gold mines, Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM), owned by Northern Star Resources Ltd. The order was booked by Wärtsilä in Q4 2024. Power production is anticipated to begin in mid-2027 subject to environmental and regulatory approvals.

The new flexible engine power plant will enable the expansion of Northern Star’s KCGM Operations, which is currently underway. The fast-starting Wärtsilä engines have grid balancing capabilities to integrate wind and solar energy. Additionally, the new flexible engine power plant has the future potential to be connected to the SWIS grid at Kalgoorlie.

“Zenith Energy has enjoyed a strong and enduring partnership with Wärtsilä across several of our sites, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration at KCGM. Wärtsilä’s technology has consistently demonstrated high levels of reliability and efficiency, supported by excellent service performance. Northern Star has set clear decarbonisation objectives, and the flexibility of the Wärtsilä engines will be fundamental in enabling higher penetration of renewable energy. This will support a substantial reduction in overall emissions while ensuring the delivery of reliable power to the mine and potentially, in time, to the broader Kalgoorlie community,” says Simon Jelly, CTO at Zenith Energy.

Wärtsilä’s full scope of supply includes ten Wärtsilä 31DF dual-fuel engines with synchronous condenser capability, the engineering, auxiliary modules, control system, operator interface system, and other performance critical auxiliaries.

The synchronous condenser feature enables the generators to operate independently from the engines and provide reactive power support and inertia when engine power is not needed. This, together with the balancing capabilities of the engines, will strengthen the grid during times with high inputs of renewables, improve the grid’s voltage and frequency stability, and improve short-circuit capacity.

“We have built a strong relationship with Zenith and are excited to support them as they strive to increase the utilisation of renewable energy in their operations. Our 31DF engine is highly efficient and reliable, and therefore ideally suited to this application, delivering the flexibility demanded with minimised emissions,” comments Kari Punnonen, Energy Business Director, Australasia, at Wärtsilä Energy.

Zenith Energy is a repeat customer for Wärtsilä, having previously procured three Wärtsilä 34DF dual-fuel engines and two Wärtsilä 34SG pure gas engines. They have also installed an energy storage system including Wärtsilä’s Quantum modules and the sophisticated GEMS Digital Energy Platform.