Photo By Jllm06 (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons.The mining industry worldwide could slash carbon emissions by a gigaton by greening operations, according to the Rocky Mountain Institute. While mining is a highly energy-intensive activity, the sector’s investment in clean energy currently represents a mere 2.5 percent of the world’s renewable generation. Renewables hold Read More
Of the many takeaways from this June’s Energy and Mines Australia Summit in Perth, awareness of the inevitability of a low-carbon economy may be the most striking. Miners are now discussing how to integrate renewables—the debate over whether to do it at all is over. With the Paris Climate Accord reaffirmed and a host of pioneering Read More
Jericho Diamond Mine pit in Nunavut, Canada. Photo by Tom Churchill (Tomchurchill at en.wikipedia) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons. Think clean energy jobs are just in manufacturing, installation, and maintenance? Think again. Specifically, think of the extraction industries. Canada’s mining sector produces a host of metals and resources that are critical to renewable energy technologies. Copper Read More
“We are observing a strong and growing appetite from mining customers towards renewable energy globally,” reports Javier Vaquerizo, Head of Commercial Office - Business Development, Enel Green Power. “Cost competitiveness, long-term hedge, scalability, modularity, fast time-to market and sustainability make renewables very attractive in many geographies, whether it be for on-site or off-site projects.” In this Read More
“We understand that this wind-diesel hybrid power generation will be a first for an Australian mine, so naturally we are concentrating on the possible risks involved with implementing this technology,” comments Mike Kevan, Engineering Manager, Australian Garnet. Kevan is leading the implementation of a 6 MW wind-diesel hybrid generation system for the Balline Project, Australian Garnet’s Read More
Rising energy prices and looming carbon targets are incentivizing companies of all sizes to adjust how they acquire and use power. For large mining companies with well-entrenched, global reach, that may mean rethinking nearly every aspect of their operations. Mining, metals, and petroleum company BHP is one of these giants. According to BHP, long-term sustainable development Read More
Energy and Mines spoke to Craig Palmer, Program Manager at GHD about why mines are exploring renewables, and how best to integrate them into new and existing operations. “The attention given to renewable energy for mining has reached company board and executive decision-maker levels,” reports Palmer. “Renewable energy options are technically feasible and being assessed as Read More
A new research project from diamond mining company De Beers Group may make carbon-neutral mining a reality in as little as five years. The firm’s scientists are partnering with external experts to research the possibility of storing large amounts of carbon at its diamond mines in kimberlite tailings. Some types of rocks, such as kimberlite, naturally Read More
Climbing power costs and reliability of supply are the two biggest energy challenges pushing mines to consider renewables, Karim Wazni, Director of Business Development Renewables at Aggreko, tells Energy and Mines. “More on and off-grid mines are looking at different alternative power options for a cheaper and a more reliable supply to match their energy needs,” Read More
Recent decisions to power mines in such disparate environments as India, Africa, and Chile with renewable energy indicate that increased adoption may be in the industry’s near future. Canadian firm IAMGOLD garnered attention by signing a $20 million,15-year power purchase agreement for a solar installation at its off-grid Essakane mine in Burkina Faso, Africa earlier this Read More
