What are the current projections for the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for solar PV, wind and energy storage? And how do renewables stack up against diesel, coal and gas for mining offtakers? In this Q&A interview, Rachel Jiang, Senior Analyst, Environmental and Power Markets, Bloomberg New Energy Finance provides insight on these critical questions for miners and Read More
Photo credit: Max Pixel. The Minerals Council of Australia's submission to scientist Alan Finkel's review of the electricity market's future security pans his preliminary report, charging it fails to reflect the true cost of an emissions-based approach, omits advanced coal technologies, and favors renewable energy sources, rather than remaining technology-neutral. It claims that review appears to Read More
Credit: Shooter's Bottom wind turbine at dusk (Sharon Loxton) / CC BY-SA 2.0 Major players in global mining are beginning to acknowledge that environmental sustainability is key to business sustainability, and lead the industry toward a low-carbon future. London-based Rio Tinto, for example, outlines 10 ways it’s pushing forward on this front. These include: Signing the Paris Pledge for Read More
A massive new hybrid fuel project is coming to West Africa. Toronto-based gold producer Iamgold has plans to integrate a new solar plant with its existing 57 MW thermal power plant. When finished, Iamgold may boast the largest hybrid fuel project in the world. This won’t be the company’s first renewable energy project; Iamgold built a Read More
Large-scale commercial solar is beginning to make headway in Australia. Zinc metals producer Sun Metals has announced it will build a 100MW solar PV plant to support its refinery located near Townsville, northern Queensland. The project already marks the largest commitment to renewable energy by a major Australian company, and it may increase in size to Read More
Steve Burke and Jim Besha of Albany Engineering Corp. stand at the site of an abandoned iron mine in the Adirondacks, in Mineville, NY. Credit: CBS News. A long-defunct iron mine in Mineville, NY may be the key to storing the area’s solar and wind energy. Renewable energy producers need ways to ensure an uninterrupted flow Read More
Goldcorp's Borden mine. Credit: Goldcorp. Industry giant Goldcorp recently announced its plans to establish North America’s first all-electric mining operation at its Borden mine, located near Chapleau, Ontario. The project will rely on a range of battery-operated drilling and blasting equipment, electric bolters, personnel carriers, and a 40-tonne battery-powered haul truck. Goldcorp will eliminate roughly 50% Read More
Chilean mining companies are looking to renegotiate energy contracts to include cheaper renewable power, Reuters reports. Chile's shift towards alternative energy is clearly visible amid increased use and continuously falling costs of renewables. “Industrial customers are reviewing their contracts, they are anticipating tenders, they are trying to seize the moment and take advantage of this buyer's market,” Juan Read More
The largest solar thermal plant in North America is now supplying power to Industrias Peñoles’ Milpillas copper mine in the northwestern Mexican state of Sonora, reports BNamericas. The project was installed by Denmark’s solar heating specialist Arcon-Sunmark. The plant has a collector field of 6.270 m2 with a total capacity of 8,600MWh/y, according to Flemming Jørgensen, Read More
The Financial Post reports on Energy and Mines' 4th Annual Renewables for Mining World Congress that took place in Toronto on Nov 21-22. Excerpts from the article include: Mining companies are digging into renewable energy as a way to reduce costs and offset the impact of volatile conventional fuel prices as the world shifts to a low-carbon Read More
