Mining companies are increasingly being forced to operate well off the beaten track as resources become scarce. Mines in remote locations are faced with very high energy costs, as fuel transportation is often more expensive than the fuel itself. Hybrid power microgrids can reduce fuel costs in remote mining locations by up to 40%.
Although most mines have huge potential for using renewable energies, the benefits are severely limited, as gensets still need to run continuously – and at lower efficiency – in order to provide spinning reserve. Only when intelligent control and power storage capacity is added can real savings be made: The mtu EnergyPack and mtu Microgrid Controller keep gensets running at peak performance by providing spinning reserve and enabling greater use of renewables by storing the excess power for delivery when required.
Can mines reduce both energy costs and enviromental impact?
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mtu EnergyPack
The scalable all-in-one energy storage solution for mining.
When it comes to microgrid solutions in mining facilities, the new mtu EnergyPack is a key component for improving reliability and profitability. It stores electricity from any source – diesel or gas-powered gensets, wind turbines or solar panels – and delivers it just when it’s needed. Designed as a scalable, all-in-one solution, the mtu EnergyPack is able to provide grid support services and can form an autonomous microgrid, enabling customers to operate independently during grid outages.
The system can be built into existing power grids, making it easy to expand capacity. A highly mobile, fully integrated plug-and-play design ensures fast, easy installation, reducing setup times and costs. As a result, power is available more quickly and at lower cost. By bringing power on-stream immediately, the mtu EnergyPack provides essential fast response capability for better power quality, black starts, frequency response and backup applications.
Anatomy of an mtu EnergyPack
Microgrid use case: a mine in Australia
How to lower both energy costs and environmental impact
Electricity makes up a significant share of a mine’s operating costs. Renewable energy solutions such as photovoltaics (PV) and an battery energy storage system (BESS) can lower energy costs by as much as 53% – along with the environmental footprint. How? The following use case of a mine in Australia offers two scenarios. Download the technical article below and discover how:
- A PV-only plant can greatly reduce utility grid dependence
- A combined PV and BESS can lead to optimized energy cost savings