While companies such as Epiroc are already producing battery electric vehicles ( BEVs ) suitable for underground use , the sheer scale of open pit mining machinery means the technology needs to advance to make it commercially viable .
Mining has a critical role to play in the transition to a net-zero economy and mining companies are under increased pressure from consumers and investors to clean up their act . It is therefore vital to secure access to significant amounts of renewable electricity to turn mines fully electric and replace diesel .
Image : Epiroc
McKinsey says electrifying the global iron ore industry would require as much as 11 gigawatt-hours of additional electricity per metric ton of iron ore . The consultancy says that once electric haul trucks become available , the need for electricity could double , simply by replacing 27 diesel trucks and the associated equipment .
So where could this extra electricity come from ?
“ The best solution to supply electricity to remote operations depends largely on the geographical context of the mine ,” says McKinsey .
“ Some remote regions have significant solar / wind potential , and those solutions tend to be the cheapest option in high potential areas . In the future , as storage alternatives get more competitive ( battery storage , long-duration energy storage ), the grid stability issues related to solar / wind could reduce , making it more feasible to run whole operations based on those energy sources .
“ When solar and wind potential is not high , small modular reactors ( SMRs ) could be an alternative to be evaluated , together with carbon capture and storage ( CCS ) for abating emissions from fossil sources .”
Generating the electricity is one challenge , storing it is another . As the experts from McKinsey say , developments in battery technology will help smooth out those demand curves .
One company already leading the charge on battery tech is Skeleton Technologies which has developed what it calls the ‘ SuperBattery ’. This graphenebased battery is being developed to power dump trucks for a Shell-led consortium for electrified mining .
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