Experts help find a path to sustainable mining

Experts are helping the mining industry find a pathway to more efficient, green, sustainable and safer mining operations by transitioning to battery-supported electric vehicles (BEVs).

In a new project funded by the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) and led by the University of Adelaide, researchers are providing the Australian mining industry with a suite of decision-making tools and guidelines
that will aid their transition towards BEVs and
associated stationary machinery in their mining operations.

“Electric vehicles and machinery combined with partial or stand-alone renewable energy powered microgrids will provide a pathway to more efficient, sustainable and safer mining operations.”Dr Ali Pourmousavi Kani

“About 30-50 per cent of the total mine site energy usage is related to diesel-powered mining vehicles,” said the University of Adelaide’s Dr Ali Pourmousavi Kani, Lecturer, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

“This represents a significant proportion of current mining operational costs, and the prevalence of diesel fuel usage presents significant health and safety concerns.

“Mining is a critical industry in Australia. It is great to see a growing movement in this industry to reduce their carbon emissions in line with the global transition to renewable energy and electric transportation. Electric vehicles and machinery combined with partial or stand-alone renewable energy powered microgrids will provide a pathway to more efficient, sustainable and safer mining operations.”

Dr Pourmousavi will work on the project, named Assessment, design and operation of battery-supported electric mining vehicles and machinery, or Mine electrification for short, with Associate Professor Wen Soong and Associate Professor Nesimi Ertugrul who are also from the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

The project, supported by the Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources (IMER) – Modern Energy Systems, is the latest example of the University’s focus on EV, battery and microgrid research and its application to primary industry.

“Projects such as this highlight the willingness for industry to partner with the research community in order to drive economic, environmental and social sustainability,” said the University of Adelaide’s Professor Michael Goodsite, Director, IMER.

The project was designed in conjunction with and funded by the FBI CRC and its participants which are: BHP Nickel West, IGO Limited, Energetics Pty Ltd, Galaxy Resources Limited, Multicom Resources Limited, the South Australian Department for Energy and Mining (DEM), Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works (DEPW), the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) and the University of Western Australia.

The project, which has a budget of approximately $2.76M ($1.16M in cash and the remainder in-kind support) and lasts for 3.5 years, will enable the resources sector to:

• reduce the costs and improve the reliability of energy,
• improve occupational health and safety (OHS), and
• reduce the carbon footprint of production.

“The project will allow mining companies to understand the benefits and technical risks and costs of implementation,” said Dr Pourmousavi Kani.

“It will also assist equipment, technology and service providers to service mining companies during the transition to BEVs.

“End-users will benefit from a de-risked strategy to transition, reduced production costs, reduced energy costs, reduced emissions and an upskilled work force.

“Overall, this project will help the Australian mining industry to remain competitive globally by greening their production and lowering their operational costs.”

Dr Jacques Eksteen is Research Director of the FBICRC.

“This project is highly significant for the FBICRC as it serves as an important development and demonstration project of the uptake of battery technologies in mining vehicles and mobile equipment,” he said.

“This application of battery technology offers significant potential benefits to industry and we are keen to invest in developing and enhancing capability in the field of mobile mine electrification.”

Minister for Energy and Mining Dan van Holst Pellekaan said: “Sustainable mining operations is a focus for South Australia, and the Mining Electrification project demonstrates our leadership and ability to collaborate as we work towards reducing our carbon emissions.”

"The Mining Electrification project is the latest example of the Marshall Government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030 and achieving net zero emissions by 2050.”