ZERO CARBON MINE
Driving Mining’s Sustainable Future
TROPICANA. IMAGE COURTESY PACIFIC ENERGY
as power system stability. None of this need be a surprise, as the power system, including the miner’s plant, can be modelled ahead of time and to ensure the appropriate equipment is selected. E&M: What are some of the challenges and lessons learned you can share from Pacific Energy’s project with AngloGold Ashanti at the Tropicana gold mine? MD: One of the key challenges we face on complex projects like Tropicana is the lack of ‘off the shelf’, whole-of-system controllers for hydrocarbons-off- enabled systems. Building a solution with the available technology remains a challenge, and the complexity of integrating controllers that meet the dynamic needs of the project requires specialised expertise. For each project, we need to tailor control systems that can differentiate between all renewable energy (RE) and thermal sources, select the appropriate blend of power for various operating scenarios, and maintain system stability, all while maximising RE utilisation. Finding the right balance can be a process of trial and error. Fortunately, we have some of Australia’s most experienced control systems designers in-house, and they ensure we deliver the capabilities we have promised to our clients.
mining environment. This is a significant achievement. Our modelling and technical expertise ensure that we are able to achieve full hydrocarbons-off during operations and maintain complete protection grading for clients. E&M: What are the benefits of choosing a turnkey solution provider for remote hybrid power, and what type of mining company is this commercial model most suitable for? MD: For a modern remote hybrid power system to work effectively, each of the sub-systems must operate successfully in concert with each other. For example, the BESS must respond as expected to any perturbations in renewable energy output, and the thermal plant must fill in the gaps on an increasingly intermittent basis. Our strong recommendation is that those interfaces are best managed by a single experienced supplier who is responsible for integrating the entire solution. Hybrid networks are significantly more complex than traditional diesel or gas power stations, so clients benefit immensely from a single team that understands the precise nuances of their system and how to avoid complications. A hybrid power system is the ideal solution for a miner who has a project with sufficient mine life and understands their load profile.
Who We Are
Zero Carbon Mine is a dynamic platform dedicated to accelerating decarbonisation in the mining industry. We bring together innovators, industry leaders, and sustainability experts to share knowledge, spark collaboration, and drive meaningful change.
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+61 408914139 zerocarbonmine@gmail.com zerocarbonmine.carrd.co
At Tropicana, we’ve also demonstrated that hydrocarbons-off and fault current/grading
requirements can be met in real-world situations with higher demand loads than previously achieved in WA’s
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