Engagement with stakeholders is also crucial. Successful hybrid projects require close collaboration between miners, technology providers, hardware suppliers and more. Clear communication helps align expectations, streamline approvals, and facilitate smooth integration into mining operations. Additionally, resource availability is a key aspect. Highly skilled renewable engineers are in high demand globally, the nature of mining sites means that often suppliers need to be ready to mobilize (and demobilize) very quickly to perform commissioning and other services, meaning vendors need a good degree of flexibility. This is where larger local based businesses, like Yokogawa, have been able to respond as there are sufficient engineers available and sufficient volume of diverse work to offer customers this flexibility. Mining schedules differ largely from energy generation in this space, in mining the focus and priority is on the mineral side of the business and power is a requirement to achieve this. E&M: What kind of upskilling is necessary for miners when they integrate renewable power and advanced control systems? DW: The transition to hybrid power systems requires upskilling across multiple levels. Operators and maintenance personnel need training in renewable energy technologies, battery management, and advanced control systems. Familiarity with digital tools, remote monitoring platforms, and predictive maintenance techniques is also essential. Maintenance activities are less mechanically based, and more electrical with the inspection and maintenance of inverters, batteries and other power electronics. Engineering teams must develop expertise in microgrid design, grid integration, and energy management strategies. Understanding the interplay between different power sources and how to optimize them using control systems is crucial for maximizing efficiency and reliability. Most mining grids are small with low inertia increasing the complexity. At the leadership level, decision-makers should be educated on the financial and strategic benefits of renewables, carbon reduction incentives, and the long-term cost savings of hybrid power solutions, and their methods for funding and deployment, whether through independent power producers, power purchase agreements or some other financial
arrangement. Hybrid sites require significantly higher capital investment.
The ideal framework for this upskilling is close working relationships and co-innovative activities between miners, energy providers and the control solution vendors. It is vital to share the information learned on existing projects and leverage those to improve future projects. The operational life on many of these projects is over a decade, meaning that there is significant scope for minor enhancements to provide significant long term returns.
E&M: Is 100% renewable energy achievable for miners?
DW: While achieving 100% renewable energy for mining operations remains challenging, it is becoming increasingly viable. Mines with strong solar and wind resources, coupled with advanced battery storage and control systems, can already operate primarily on renewables during favorable conditions. We are seeing in Western Australia particularly that the solar and wind profiles perfectly complement each other providing day and night renewable energy confidence. However, achieving full-time renewable operation requires overcoming intermittency challenges. Long-duration energy storage will be key to enabling around-the-clock renewable power. This could be through the next generation of batteries (long duration), pumped hydro, or even emerging technologies like renewable hydrogen. Policy and market structures will play a significant role in accelerating the transition. Carbon pricing, green financing, and supportive grid regulations can help miners justify the investment in 100% renewable solutions. And overseas activities like the European Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are helping encourage many to go carbon neutral. While some pioneering mines are achieving full renewable operation today, widespread adoption will likely take a lot longer. Advances in energy storage, declining technology costs, and advancing control systems will continue to push the mining industry toward a fully renewable future. We are very excited to be at the forefront of this change and helping our customers, existing and new, throughout this transition to a better future.
BELLEVUE GOLD. IMAGE COURTESY ZENITH ENERGY
DW: Our work with Australian mines has yielded several key lessons in hybrid power system implementation. First, robust system design is essential. Mines need tailored solutions that account for site-specific energy loads, renewable resource availability, and operational constraints. One-size-fits- all approaches often lead to suboptimal performance. Another lesson is the critical role of battery storage. Without sufficient storage capacity and intelligent energy management, integrating high shares of renewables becomes challenging. Effective battery dispatch strategies are necessary to ensure seamless power supply and economic efficiency. The right battery allows for reduced curtailment, optimized thermal generation and maximization of renewable energy resources.
controllers paired with the right assets ensure grid stability by responding instantaneously to load and generation changes. This reduces the risk of outages and equipment damage; it also unlocks the potential of having grid connected systems with islanding capability. Having batteries available in many of these grids provides a much faster response than thermal. Furthermore, integrating AI-driven forecasting models helps mines anticipate energy demand and renewable generation patterns. This enhances scheduling, improves asset utilization, and lowers operational costs. Overall, the right control system transforms a hybrid power plant into a more reliable, efficient, and sustainable energy source. E&M: Can you share some of the lessons learned from your recent work with Australian mines on hybrid power systems?
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