Mine electrification

The electrification of mining operations is rapidly emerging as a central issue for the resources sector and its efforts to improve reliability and health/safety, and to reduce cost. The reliance on fossil fuel and gas generated electricity is a significant proportion of current mining operational costs and the prevalence of diesel fuel usage is a significant health and safety concern. The use of electric vehicles and machinery combined with partial or stand-alone renewable energy powered microgrids provides a pathway to more efficient, sustainable and safer mining operations, both for underground mining and open-pit mining. Electrification also presents an opportunity to integrate new and adaptive IoT technologies such as autonomous vehicles and machinery, communications networks and data analysis to make operations safer and more efficient. Contact: Dr Ali Pourmousavi Kani: a.pourm@adelaide.edu.au; + 61 8 8313 8311