Gold Fields has awarded a contract to Goldwind to design, manufacture, and construct seven wind turbines for its St Ives gold mine in Western Australia.
The turbines will form part of a 42MW wind farm under the company’s A$296 million St Ives Renewable Energy project, which is set to become the largest renewable energy initiative at an existing mine site in the state.
The project also includes a 35MW solar farm, currently being built in partnership with Pacific Energy, with completion expected in the first half of 2026.
Once fully operational, the renewable energy system is projected to supply 73 per cent of the St Ives site’s power needs and reduce the mine’s carbon emissions by approximately 50 per cent by 2030.
Gold Fields Principal Specialist and Project Director Simon Schmid said the initiative is part of the company’s broader efforts to decarbonise operations across its sites in Australia, South Africa, Ghana, Canada, and South America.
“We’re already benefitting from significant renewable energy generation across our Australian operations, including 18MW at Gruyere, 10MW at Granny Smith, and 35MW at Agnew,” Schmid said.
“We are excited to see the project’s contribution to our broader global decarbonisation strategy, which contains a target of 30% net emission reduction by 2030, reinforcing our long-term and growing commitment to sustainability.”
Goldwind, which has previously collaborated with Gold Fields on renewable energy projects in Western Australia, will oversee the wind farm’s development.
Goldwind General Manager of Sales and Marketing William Ives said the project highlights the role of renewables in the mining sector.
“Goldwind is pleased to deliver the wind farm component of the St Ives Mine project, the second renewable energy microgrid project in partnership with Gold Fields,” Ives said.
“Building on our experience in delivering renewable energy solutions for mining operations in Western Australia, this project further demonstrates how sustainable energy can be integrated into industrial sites to reduce emissions and support a cleaner energy future.”
Manufacturing of the wind turbines is already underway, with the components expected to arrive in Western Australia in August 2025.
Construction is scheduled to begin the following month once the turbines are transported to the St Ives site.
As part of the renewables program, Gold Fields has partnered with FORM Building a State of Creativity to engage local school students and emerging artists in designing a series of artworks to be displayed on the turbines. Schmid said the initiative is intended to foster community involvement and artistic expression.
“This program fosters collaboration, creativity, and connection, and celebrates community by encouraging young artists to share their interpretations of wind as an energy source and what it means to their communities,” he said.
“Their artwork will be showcased across a lot of different applications, including on the turbines themselves, which will stand 130 metres high once constructed.”
The St Ives Renewable Energy project is one of several initiatives by Gold Fields to integrate sustainable energy solutions into its mining operations.
