Mining

Wärtsilä will supply a 9.2 MW / 8.7MWh energy storage system to Zenith Energy, an Independent Power Producer in Australia. Zenith sells the electrical power it produces to some of the world's largest mining companies with operations in Australia.

This article explores the history of solid-state batteries and looks ahead at regional development, sharing some of the research from the new IDTechEx report, "Solid-State and Polymer Batteries 2021-2031: Technology, Forecasts, Players".

Thursday 26 August 2021 - Why is even seasonal storage a new requirement? How is it that storage by compressed air, gravity and other non-battery options closely leverage mine assets for greater safety and viability? Why does next generation solar fit so well in mines? and more.

Imagine mines with so much electricity production and storage that they do far more downstream processing. As reserves deplete, many will even transition to being zero-emission power stations and electricity storage for local communities and industry or even national grids. The cost of making-good becomes income from reinvention. That is the untold story of mining electrification, beyond the vital safety, greening, and cost reduction of electrics.

Working together to rapidly innovate in support of carbon reduction targets, Komatsu and several of its customers have formed the Komatsu Greenhouse Gas Alliance. The founding members of the alliance are Rio Tinto, BHP, Codelco and Boliden.

Robotics and semi-autonomous equipment are taking humans out of mines, reducing costs and risk.

Construction, agriculture and mining are progressing towards 100% electrics from off-grid zero emission electricity production on site, with mining sites and farm desalination particularly power hungry up to 100MW levels.

Over the last decade, wind energy prices have fallen 70% and solar photovoltaics have fallen 89% on average, with the cost of renewables continuing to trend downwards.

The amount of capital expenditure spent by mining companies is estimated by various organisations.