Power supply Mining the
n the wake of Cop27, the climate conference held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in November, the focus on decarbonisation remains prevalent. The mining sector – responsible for some 4–7% of global CO2 emissions and, therefore, an industry greatly in need of transformation – has been making strides in this area with the ongoing transition to electrification. Of course, it is not only important to electrify a mine’s processes – what’s also imperative is where that electricity comes from. It is not enough to merely replace diesel-fuelled trucks and machinery with battery electric vehicles (BEVs); the industry must also ensure that electricity stored in those batteries comes from green and renewable sources. “When we talk about the all-electric mine, we talk about decarbonising the fleet, generally, but also decarbonising the generation side,” explains Nik Gresshoff, head of mining, ABB Australia. While mining companies across the world are swiftly bringing electric vehicles into their operations, ensuring that their power comes from
With mining sites investing in electrifi cation, questions arise over how to enhance its development. Nicholas Kenny speaks with Nik Gresshoff, head of mining, ABB Australia, and Graeme Stanway, director of Electric Mine Consortium, to examine the progress being made in delivering the next generation of mine electrifi cation.
electric avenue I
renewable sources has proved more of a challenge. After all, the industry frequently operates in locations that are far from energy grids and therefore not easily electrified, while some forms of green energy can be highly location-dependant. “There are two parts to the equation. There’s the generation, and then there’s the actual capital and the actual equipment to use,” Gresshoff adds. Trying to balance this equation – the energy needs of the mine, and the cost and materials to address those needs – raises a host of new questions. From working out the best kind of power plant required to run a site, to deciding on whether micro grids need to be established, or the role that hydrogen could play on in the power supply – the solution isn’t always easy.
Time to upgrade
Managing an expanded energy grid and renewable power generation technology, along with an electrified BEV fleet operating within a mine, could well be aided in the coming years by emerging technologies – from automation to digitalisation and high-power charging.
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World Mining Frontiers /
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