247Solar – Hybrid-renewable energy grid for mining & local community (Australia)

The 247Solar project in Queensland, Australia, implements a hot-air-driven Brayton Cycle system to provide baseload clean electricity for a mining operation and a local aboriginal community. With an estimated demand of 8 MW, the plant will cover 100% of the mine's needs and 50% of the community's needs, reducing the carbon footprint by 90% and energy costs by 25%. The project is funded by the Australian Federal Government (ARENA) and the Queensland State Government, and it aims to create approximately 350 local jobs.

• The 247Solar project in Queensland, Australia, utilizes a hot-air-driven Brayton Cycle system operating at atmospheric pressure to provide baseload clean electricity without the use of steam, molten salts, or heat transfer oils. Based on a Q4 2020 preliminary feasibility study, the total estimated demand across four sites is 8 MW.
• The renewable plant is designed to supply 100% of the electricity demand for a mine, its campsite, and an export jetty, while providing 50% of the local community's electricity demand via a microgrid. The project aims to replace expensive diesel and on-grid power, resulting in a 90% reduction in carbon footprint and a 25% reduction in energy costs for power and heat.
• Financing for the project is provided by the Australian Federal Government (ARENA) via a loan of up to EUR 5,000,000, and the Queensland State Government through a grant of up to EUR 1,600,000, a loan of up to EUR 1,600,000, and up to EUR 300,000 for local employment, alongside other equity. The project expects to create local employment for approximately 350 people across the community township and three mining-related sites.

APA

Alliance for Renewable Electrification (2021). 247Solar – Hybrid-renewable energy grid for mining & local community (Australia). https://renewelec.org/case-study/247solar-hybrid-renewable-energy-grid-mining-local-community-australia/

Chicago

Alliance for Renewable Electrification. 247Solar – Hybrid-renewable energy grid for mining & local community (Australia). 2021. https://renewelec.org/case-study/247solar-hybrid-renewable-energy-grid-mining-local-community-australia/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Alliance for Renewable Electrification |title=247Solar – Hybrid-renewable energy grid for mining & local community (Australia) |date=22 December 2021 |url=https://renewelec.org/case-study/247solar-hybrid-renewable-energy-grid-mining-local-community-australia/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allianceforrenewableelectrification2021247solar, author = {{Alliance for Renewable Electrification}}, title = {{247Solar – Hybrid-renewable energy grid for mining \& local community (Australia)}}, institution = {Alliance for Renewable Electrification}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://renewelec.org/case-study/247solar-hybrid-renewable-energy-grid-mining-local-community-australia/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }