Zenith Energy brings home three wins from the 2025 Asian Power Awards

Zenith Energy has won Independent Power Producer of the Year - Australia for the third consecutive year, also collecting two other accolades.

It’s another remarkable performance for the company, which has established itself as the leader in Australian mining’s decarbonisation.

Zenith Energy’s current portfolio includes five major hybrid power systems that integrate wind, solar, battery storage, and thermal generation. These are financed, designed, owned, and operated under long-term Build, Own, Operate Power Purchase Agreements. Each project is tailored to maximise renewable energy fractions and operational performance.

These projects are made possible by Zenith Energy’s innovative “Engine Off” capability, deployed across all the major sites, which allows operations to run on 100% renewable energy when weather conditions are favourable. Key to this capability is large-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems and advanced control technology that optimises energy delivery, reduces thermal dependency to slash diesel and gas use, and provides system stability to deliver cost-effective long-term energy pricing.

Beyond technical performance, Zenith Energy stands out for its inclusive and sustainable business model. Through the Tjiwarl Katu Power Joint Venture with the Tjiwarl Aboriginal Corporation, the company ensures First Nations participation in the renewable energy transition. This partnership delivers real, long-term benefits to traditional owners through employment, training, and economic engagement in energy infrastructure projects on their lands.

All their projects were aligned with both client decarbonisation goals and Zenith’s sustainability targets, which include an interim net zero milestone by 2030 of 45% reduction in carbon intensity from its 2020 baseline. Each deployment is a step toward a cleaner, more resilient energy future, not only for the mining sector but also for Australia’s broader transition to net zero.

As of this year, it has achieved 700+ MW of contracted capacity, including 100+ MW of wind, 65+ MW of solar PV, and 75+ MW of battery storage, as well as renewable energy fractions of up to 80% in off-grid environments.

Zenith Energy has been recognised as the Independent Power Producer of the Year - Australia in the awards programme due to these achievements.

Supporting decarbonisation

The company has also been lauded for its Jundee Hybrid Power Upgrade, delivered in partnership with gold mining company Northern Star Resources. The initiative represents a landmark transformation of a 43MW thermal power station into a high-performing hybrid renewable energy facility.

Completed in 2024, the upgrade added 17MW solar PV, 24MW wind, and a 12MW/12MWh battery system, enabling a 55% to 56% renewable energy fraction for the off-grid gold mining site.

A major achievement of the Jundee project is its successful retrofit under a live operational environment, with the renewable integration being completed without disruption to mining activity. The complex coordination of new and legacy systems, coupled with the integration of weather-dependent resources and battery storage, demonstrates both engineering excellence and innovation in execution.

The upgrade supported Northern Star’s decarbonisation goals and Zenith Energy’s 2025 20% carbon intensity reduction target from its 2020 baseline — all whilst contributing to Western Australia’s clean energy transition.

This feat was recognised as the Power Plant Upgrade of the Year - Australia.

Meanwhile, Zenith Energy has also been awarded the Solar/Wind Power Project of the Year - Australia for its Bellevue Gold Solar Farm, which has become one of the most significant
off-grid solar installations supporting the decarbonisation of the mining sector in the country.

Developed in partnership with mining company Bellevue Gold, the Bellevue Gold Solar Farm is a central component of the 90MW hybrid renewable energy system powering the Bellevue Gold Project in Western Australia. The project integrates 24MW wind, 24MW thermal, 15MW/33MWh battery storage, and synchronous condenser technology, enabling the site to run on up to 100% renewable energy under optimal conditions.

The project was instrumental in supporting Bellevue Gold’s achievement of becoming Australia’s first carbon-neutral gold producer, contributing to 80+% renewable energy fraction, amongst the highest in the mining sector. Designed for remote, challenging conditions, it uses fixed-axis PV for durability and low maintenance, backed by advanced controls and monitoring.

Delivered under the IPP Sector leading Tjiwarl Engagement Agreement, the Bellevue Hybrid Power systems also advance indigenous economic participation, creating employment and training opportunities in energy infrastructure.

Asian Power Awards is a prestigious event that honours outstanding companies and projects driving innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the power sector. It recognises groundbreaking initiatives that address climate challenges, energy demand, digital transformation, and long-term impact across the industry.

The Asian Power Awards is presented by Asian Power Magazine. To view the full list of winners, click here. If you want to join the 2026 awards programme and be acclaimed for your company's revolutionary innovations and initiatives, please contact Danica Avila at [email protected]