Miners seek energy options
Miners at work. Energy consumption in mines is costly. Mining firms now seek to integrate various sources of energy. photo | file
What you need to know:
“With cost and operational efficiencies forming the backbone of the mining business, innovative hybrid system solutions can provide solar energy as an alternative source of fuel, reducing fuel consumption and variable costs.”
Johannesburg. Rising energy prices and supply constraints have forced mining companies operating in Africa to find new energy solutions that are affordable, consistent and secure. The firms are exploring renewable-energy integration as a means to not only address their affordability and security of supply concerns, but also deal with broader carbon mitigation goals.
Comprehensive photovoltaic (PV) solar systems provider First Solar fuel replacement solutions director John Eccles points out that electricity is the lifeblood of all industries and that reliable electricity generation is particularly critical for the success of the mining sector. “While the mining industry has traditionally relied on electricity grids and on-site liquid fuel generators for its electricity needs, there is a growing global understanding that solar energy is becoming more sustainable and affordable,” he says.
Deploying sophisticated PV hybrid solutions that supplement existing power sources – such as the electricity grid or diesel generators – can help mining companies tackle their daily electricity supply challenges during the day, while reducing costs and lowering the environmental impact of their operations.
Eccles notes that remote mines in Africa that operate independently from the electricity grid and rely largely on diesel generation to support their power requirements could benefit most from solar energy solutions.
Eccles points out that, when considering operational costs, a mining company will need to factor in the price of diesel used to power its generators, which is subject to international price and currency exchange volatility. “Depending on the mine’s location, the cost of transporting diesel to the site will also have to be added, as will the cost of investing in and maintaining the generators.”
He adds that, while solar power is a variable resource, a hybrid of diesel and solar ensures the stability and reliability necessary to power a mining operation. “With cost and operational efficiencies forming the backbone of the mining business, innovative hybrid system solutions can provide solar energy as an alternative source of fuel, reducing fuel consumption and variable costs.”
In addition to enabling operational continuity, hybrid solutions can also help extend the life of generators and decrease their operational and maintenance costs. From an environmental perspective, they also help reduce noise pollution, carbon dioxide emissions and a mine’s overall carbon footprint. (Agencies)
