One of the world's largest off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) projects has been successfully commissioned at a copper and gold mine in Western Australia.

The diesel-hybrid system is providing seven megawatts of power. That will ramp up to 10 megawatts at full-functioning capacity during the summer months.

The solar array has been installed at the DeGrussa Mine, owned and operated by WA company Sandfire Resources.

The $40 million project incorporates more than 400 lithium-ion batteries, each comparable in size to a desktop computer.

There are 34,080 solar panels across an area of 20 hectares that will provide 15 per cent of the mine site's power needs.

Sandfire expects the solar plant will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 12,000 tonnes a year.

Chief operating officer Mike Spreadborough said the batteries would assist power generation during the day.

"Given the amount of power we use, 11 megawatts a day, we couldn't use battery storage over the night time," he said.

"The system has a 6 megawatt (1.8 MWh) battery storage, and that allows us to just smooth the interface between the PV array and the diesel power station for clouds and things like that.

"During the day, we will try to take as much solar power as we possibly can and reduce our diesel power generation.

"Then as the sun goes down, the diesel power generation will ramp up and take over the duty during the night, and then obviously in the morning the reverse happens."

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Federal renewable energy bodies assist with funding

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 6 minutes 51 seconds 6 m Mike Spreadborough, Sandfire Resources. Solar PV off-grid system fully operational at Degrussa Mine. ( Babs McHugh ) Download 3.1 MB

Federal renewable energy groups, which provided repayable finance options for the project, describe the DeGrussa solar PV system as a blueprint for future off-grid power options in remote locations.

The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) provided $15 million in debt finance, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) provided $20.9 million in recoupable grant funding.

CEFC chief executive Oliver Yates said the project demonstrated the financial, health and environmental benefits that moving towards renewable energy provided.

"Soon remote communities and mines will be able to reduce the need to truck in expensive, and polluting, diesel for generators," he said.

"While this project benefited from grant funding, it shows the clear economic potential for similar systems.

"Given the price reductions in solar and batteries, the economics of remote solar and storage are becoming more attractive."

ARENA chief executive Ivor Frischknecht said the successful commissioning was a turning point for the use of renewable energy in off-grid industries.

"This is a clear example of renewables providing substantial, reliable results for one of Australia's largest industries," he said.

"ARENA supports first-of-a-kind projects like this because they are crucial for increasing confidence amongst industry, project developers, investors and financiers."