Nevada Vanadium Mining Corp., which holds a 100% interest in the Gibellini vanadium mining project in Nevada, has appointed Hitachi Energy to provide consultancy services for the development of a renewable energy solution to power the project.
In an initial phase, Hitachi will work with M3 Engineering & Technology to define the energy requirements of the mine and the roadmap for implementing a solar-based microgrid and battery energy storage system. M3 is responsible for the overall design of the Gibellini project.
The objective is to provide clean, reliable, fully self-sufficient and cost-effective renewable energy to the mine round the clock.
Hitachi’s scope also includes assessing the requirements for connecting the project to the local grid for advantages such as back-up power and supply into the grid or community in the event of excess solar generation.
Expected to commence in 2024, the Gibellini project would be the first primary vanadium mining operation in the United States. The US Geological Survey has listed vanadium as a critical mineral because of its application in defense, aerospace, grid-scale energy storage, and rebar steel manufacturing. The US government is committed to develop domestic sources for such critical minerals.
Ron Espell, CEO of Nevada Vanadium, said the company selected Hitachi for its experience, understanding, and expertise with the design and development of microgrids and battery energy storage systems, particularly for the mining industry.
Article Source: Yahoo!Finance
Image Source: Nevada Vanadium