WA miners’ carbon free future

Mine sites in WA could be fully powered by renewable energy in a few years, Edith Cowan University (ECU) researchers found.

ECU PhD student Mehrdad Ghahramani’s research evaluates cost-performance trade-offs in hybrid energy systems, focusing on risk management under various uncertainty scenarios.

To date, diesel generators and other conventional energy sources have dominated mining operations. However, these resources are associated with high costs, environmental impacts and logistical challenges.

Mr Ghahramani says the mining industry faces increasing pressure to adopt sustainable energy practices due to its significant energy consumption and the global push toward reducing carbon emissions.

“Many companies are exploring hybrid energy systems, which integrate conventional fossil-fuel-based generators with renewable energy sources like solar and wind,” he said.

“Currently, one of the most challenging aspects of integrating renewable energy into a mining site’s grid is the costs of lithium-ion batteries which are used to store the renewable energy produced. But these costs are decreasing.

“However, using renewable energy comes with several uncertainties. There is no way to accurately predict how much energy exactly will be generated by wind turbines or PV panels on any given day. Managing these uncertainties is crucial to maintaining system reliability and cost efficiency.”

The findings indicate that for the studied power structure, the risk-averse strategy prioritises reliability by maintaining higher reserves, resulting in higher costs but addressing uncertainties up to 28%.

Conversely, the risk-seeking strategy lowers costs by accepting a 15% uncertainty risk, reducing system reliability. The risk-neutral approach strikes a balance between cost and reliability. Additionally, the sensitivity analysis illustrates how power demand uncertainty significantly influences decision-making in hybrid energy system management.

Mr Ghahramani says mining companies that can prepare themselves for all aspects of using renewable energy, including the challenges that it can bring in terms of intermittency, grid stability and energy storage solutions will come out on top.

“The best advice we can give is to start small, by planning and implementing microgrids or smart grids within the mining sector, to help the sector prepare themselves for the day that they need to switch completely to renewables,” he said.

According to ECU, hybrid power systems that combine diesel or gas generators with solar PV or wind energy offer the most practical solution for off-grid mining operations. These systems allow mines to steadily increase their renewable energy usage while ensuring reliable power supply.