When Does > 50% Renewable Energy Make Sense for a Mine?

With smaller-scale renewable energy hybrids delivering operational results and demonstrating the reliability of these solutions, miners are looking to get to the next level of energy and carbon savings using a variety of energy sources. This discussion will offer critical insight on the key factors needed to support high-penetration renewable energy microgrids and key developments in optimising hybrids for mines. 

• What is the starting point for determining whether a mine can achieve <50% renewables?
• What are the main internal hurdles that can keep mines from moving to larger-scale projects?
• What external barriers including network and load base parameters make high-penetration renewables and storage for mines more challenging?
• What does a high-penetration system look like - how do you get to <50% renewable energy use?
• What are the latest advances in battery energy storage that are facilitating higher renewable energy use?
• What should mines and renewables experts consider when looking at designing a larger-scale system? 
• How does curtailment come into play in shaping the economics of high-penetration renewables? 
• What lessons can be learned from current projects and how can mines prepare for higher-penetration renewables?