Tag Archives: solar power

Solar power up and floating at former coal mine in Anhui, China

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China state-owned developer CECEP has completed a 70 MWp floating solar plant on a former coal mining area, in Anhui Province, China, following tests and monitoring, according to the company that supplied the plant.

France-based Ciel & Terre said the floating photovoltaic (PV) plant will mainly aim to improve the energy structure in the province and quality of the environment on site. Constructor China Energy Conservation Solar Technology Co and the engineering procurement and construction contractor China Energy Engineering Group Shanxi Electric Power Design Institute Co contributed to the build, the biggest floating solar plant in the world.

To connect the 70 MWp floating PV power generation project to the national grid, a brand new 18-km-long 110 V overhead line was built to optimise the transport of electricity.

Ciel & Terre said: “Behind the installation of this complex is the will to improve the energy structure of Anhui Province as well as the ecological environment quality of the Lianghuai mining subsidence area.

“In the meantime, the initiative enables the promotion of the development of the ‘floatovoltaic’ technology, which also preserves water bodies. It prevents them from algae proliferation and oxidation, and even conserves water sources by reducing evaporation.”

The floating solar plant covers an area of 1.4 km² and is expected to generate up to 77,693 MWh in its first year, according to Ciel & Terre. This represents the electricity consumption of some 20,910 households.

“Within 25 years, the solar farm should generate around 1.94 million MWh,” the company said, saying the project adds to another 32 MWp GCL floating PV plant it supplied in Anhui.

Headed by CECEP, the complex was built using the tried-and-tested Hydrelio® technology designed by Ciel & Terre.
Ciel & Terre said: “CECEP chose Ciel & Terre for this major project for three complementary main reasons: the 13-year experience of the company in the field, the broad portfolio of 140 projects worldwide and the characteristic reliability and bankability of the Hydrelio system.”

Through this technical system, the company contributed to the Chinese National Energy Agency’s aim to “bolster energy infrastructure and environmental quality”, Ciel & Terre said.

Central inverters integrating medium voltage transformers have been used on this project – they stand on the water and not on the banks – while concrete poles support the electrical installation.

The anchorage system was designed and installed under the supervision of Ciel & Terre China, a subsidiary of the French company. Overall, 1,500 helical anchors were used for the project and buried from 8-m to 15 m-depth to fit the configuration of the site.

Solar hybrid power plant pays off for B2Gold at Otjikoto in Namibia

Environmental, Mine operation news, Mining services, Power supply for mines, Precious metals, Sustainable mining, , , , , ,

B2Gold has provided an update on the solar power plant working at its Otjikoto gold mine, in Namibia, in its 2018 financial results, confirming that the installation is making savings when it comes to heavy fuel oil (HFO) use and power generation costs.

On May 29, the company celebrated the official opening of the solar plant, one of the first fully-autonomous hybrid plants in the world.

At the time, B2Gold said it would allow the company to significantly reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the site’s current 24 MW HFO power plant. The shift to an HFO solar hybrid plant was, at that point, expected to reduce Otjikoto’s HFO consumption by approximately 2.3 million litres and reduce associated power generation fuel costs by approximately 10% in 2018.

B2Gold selected Caterpillar and Cat® dealer Barloworld for the 7 MW solar power solution. The full system included Cat photovoltaic solar modules and the Cat microgrid master controller.

In the company’s 2018 results, B2Gold said the plant was now providing approximately 13% of the electricity consumed on site.

And, the plant had also achieved its expected HFO consumption and power generation fuel cost results: “Changing the power plant to an HFO solar hybrid plant reduced Otjikoto’s HFO consumption by approximately 2.4 million litres and reduced associated power generation fuel costs by approximately 10% in 2018,” B2Gold said.

Renewable energy use can bring savings to Africa mining sector, report claims

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THEnergy and Voltalia’s latest report on the use of renewable energy in the Africa mining sector says the industry can realise significant cost savings when employing these power solutions.

The authors said the mining sector has shifted from phase one – where the focus of renewable power adoption was on integrating and testing out the reliability of these solutions – to phase two – where potential cost savings are being considered.

“In the last few years, more and more mining companies have adopted wind and solar systems to reduce their energy costs at remote off-grid mines,” THEnergy and Voltalia said. “In this first phase, the initial focus was on the integration capabilities as miners were afraid that adding intermittent renewables such as solar and wind could affect the reliability of power supply and even lead to production losses.”

In various microgrid applications, renewables combined with diesel, heavy fuel oil (HFO), or gas have proven to provide reliable power supply to remote mines, according to the two firms.

“For almost all mines, the integration of renewables will have a positive impact on their energy cost position. Mining companies do not have to invest their own money; independent power providers (IPPs) invest in the renewable energy infrastructure and sell electricity to mines through power purchase agreements (PPAs),” THEnergy and Voltalia explained.

Thomas Hillig, Managing Director of THEnergy, a consultancy focused on microgrids/mini-grids and off-grid renewable energy, said this second market phase is characterised by price competition.

“With the support of a leading renewable energy player, the new report analyses how IPPs can offer extremely competitive PPAs to remote miners,” he said.

Large IPPs take advantage of economies of scale on components for solar and wind power plants not only for remote mining projects but also for much bigger grid-connected plants, the two firms said.

“Market leaders have managed to optimise the planning and construction processes substantially. However, conducting projects in remote locations, especially in Africa, requires an extended experience,” they added. Among the challenges of undertaking projects in Africa is financing, which requires relationships with local and international banks, according to THEnergy and Voltalia.

“Cost optimisation does not necessarily mean minimising capital expenditure but rather focusing on the total lifetime of the project and including operation and maintenance. It is also important to take the interplay of the different energy sources into consideration. Not every kWh of solar and wind energy generated means equivalent fossil fuel savings. When gensets run at suboptimal loads, they lose efficiency and require additional maintenance,” the two firms said.

Alexis Goybet, Head of Hybrid Solutions at Voltalia, a player in the renewable energy sector, said his company has much experience in renewable energy projects, including solar-diesel hybrid microgrids, projects in remote locations and in developing countries.

“Our experience adds up to our economies of scale in procurement and translates into significant overall cost-reductions in the range of 20-30% in comparison to new market entrants,” he said.

These overall cost reductions will make solar and wind energy extremely attractive for many mines, according to the two firms, with the number of remote mines adding renewables to diesel, HFO or gas expected to grow quickly all over Africa.

There are already several mining companies that have made – or are planning to make – this transition in Africa, as can be seen by the map above (credit: THEnergy, Voltalia). This includes Resolute Mining and its Syama underground gold mine in Mali, Newmont Mining and its Akyem gold mine in Ghana and B2Gold and its Otjikoto operation in Namibia.

In the past month alone, Barrick Gold and GoviEx Uranium have also stated plans to use hybrid solutions at their Loulo and Madaouela assets, respectively.

Zenith Energy helps Independence go solar at Nova nickel-copper operation

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Independence Group’s Nova nickel operation is set to play host to Australia’s first fully-integrated commercial hybrid diesel/solar photovoltaic (PV) facility after the company signed a contract amendment with remote power generation specialist Zenith Energy.

The changes to the existing power purchase agreement, signed by Zenith and Independence back in 2015, will incorporate a solar PV facility with a forecast 12.5 GWh/y.

Zenith’s subsidiary, Zenith Pacific, will now build, own and operate a hybrid diesel/solar PV power station of around 26 MW in installed capacity to “reliably and efficiently service the power needs of the Nova operation”, the company said.

Zenith has made huge strides since becoming a public entity via the ASX in May, sealing contracts with the likes of Gascoyne Resources, for its Dalgaranga gold project, and Dacian Gold, for its recently opened Mt Morgans gold mine.

Managing Director of Zenith Energy, Hamish Moffat said: “This development represents the first fully integrated and commercial hybrid diesel/solar PV facility in Australia and is a step forward in future renewable energy solutions.”

The solar PV will include “state-of-the-art PV modules, single axis tracking, inverters, communications and control system technology”, Zenith said.

The hybrid power station will incorporate high efficiency diesel-fuelled generators and solar PV generation.

The integrated facility is expected to be completed within the first quarter of Zenith’s 2020 financial year (to end-June, 2020). The initial supply period is for six years with an option for Zenith to extend for a further two years.

Independence Group’s Managing Director, Peter Bradford said: “The development of this innovative hybrid energy solution will…improve our cost structure with targeted renewable power insertion of up to 50% of demand via the solar PV facility.”

Nova is in the Fraser Range of Western Australia, some 160 km east-northeast of Norseman. It produced 22,258 t of nickel and 9,545 t of copper in its first full year of operation in the 2018 financial year.

ENAPAC solar-powered desalination project clears environmental hurdle in Chile

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The Energias y Aguas del Pacifico (ENAPAC) solar powered desalination project in the Atacama Region of Chile has reached another milestone, with the local government signing off the all-important Environmental Impact Study (EIS).

TRENDS Industrial, which is developing the project, said the Environmental Evaluation Commission recommended approving the EIS.

The ENAPAC project consists of a seawater desalination project that will be supplied with its own source of photovoltaic energy, for the mining region of Atacama. With an estimated initial investment of $500 million, ENAPAC will become the largest desalination plant in Latin America. It will have a maximum capacity of 2.630 l/s, a projected 100 MW of installed photovoltaic power and a water reservoir with 600,000 m³ capacity.

“Thus, ENAPAC will be one of the most advanced projects in the world with a combination of reverse osmosis desalination and photovoltaic energy,” TRENDS said.

Rodrigo Silva, TRENDS Industrial’s CEO, said: “The project will generate opportunities for local employment and suppliers, and our vision is that many users can access a sustainable and clean source of water ceasing the use of continental waters and the basins of the region, which suffers from a severe water stress. The response from the industrial sector, especially mining projects, has been very positive and we’re advancing conversations with many companies. Certainly, we predict the EIS approval will accelerate those conversations and agreements.”

The environmental evaluation from Chilean authorities for ENAPAC took more than a year and is part of the list managed by the Office of Sustainable Projects Management of the Chilean Ministry of Econom, TRENDS said.

Back in June, TRENDS Industrial signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Almar Water Solutions to develop the ENAPAC project

Miners renewing their interest in alternative power solutions

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Solar power may not completely replace more traditional means of generation in the short term, but mining companies are already starting to see a strong business case for adding renewable solutions to their energy mix.

*According to Rob Schueffner, Hybrid Energy Solutions Manager for Caterpillar Electric Power, the financial benefits and reliability of renewable energy solutions available for mines today are quickly matching the environmental benefits.

Mines can realise energy savings starting at 5% for easy and quick solutions that can extend up to 50% for installations that employ the full array of the latest fuel-saving power technologies available today, according to Schueffner.

“The ability to check many boxes is what makes hybrid energy solutions so attractive for many mines,” Schueffner said. “Mine operators who analysed hybrid solutions a few years ago are now surprised when they learn that the economics have improved so much because of cost reductions and system improvements. For one recent customer, their analysts discovered that the payback period is now roughly half what it was only three years ago.”

An integrated approach

One key to realising these returns is advanced technology and systems integration, and this is where Schueffner believes Caterpillar and the Cat dealer network stand out.

While many early micro-grid installations were disparate components cobbled together by multiple vendors, Caterpillar brings all the latest technology and market expertise in renewables under one roof to design, install, and commission a seamlessly integrated system that starts delivering returns immediately.

Caterpillar has decades of experience in providing solutions for thousands of surface and underground mines around the world, including power solutions that run on a variety of fuels.

Knowledge of the rugged environments where Cat products operate has enabled engineers to develop hybrid energy solutions used by the US military over the past decade, Schueffner says.

“We draw on a potent combination of mining knowledge, engineering expertise in harsh environments, and a broad mix of power solutions to help us develop the right hybrid energy solution for mines,” Schueffner said.

Scaling up

Every mine is different, and many variables must be considered when determining which renewable energy solution will work best for a particular mining operation. Geographic location, peak sun-hours, government subsidies, and energy production costs – including the purchase, transport, and storage of fuel – all must be factored in.

Given the long period of time mines are typically in operation, customers are also considering projected costs over the entire life of the mine, according to Schueffner.

“We have some mine operators who tell us they know the economic case for renewables may not quite be there yet, but they want to hedge against anticipated future fuel costs and start implementing large-scale projects phase by phase,” Schueffner said.

In sharp contrast to the substantial capital investment required for building or updating traditional powerhouses, hybrid energy solutions allow for a scalable approach. Schueffner said it is fairly easy to achieve fuel savings of 5% simply by adding energy storage to mitigate fluctuations in output power by regulating ramp-up controls, absorbing spikes in power demand, and injecting power for sudden power needs.

Cost benefits

“One customer has projected the cost benefits of using the Cat Energy Storage System as a virtual spinning reserve that enhances the efficiency of the entire powerhouse,” Schueffner said. “By taking advantage of the reserve to optimise energy usage for the varying loads across the site’s 24-hour cycle, the customer has projected a payback period of under two years.”

At the next level, solar photovoltaic panels can be installed to reduce fuel consumption by about 20% without making significant modifications to the powerhouse. This can serve as a simple and effective way to hedge against future increases in fuel costs, Schueffner says.

By adding the Cat Microgrid Master Controller, mining customers can increase solar PV production and more energy storage for grid stability to achieve fuel savings of more than 40%. Finally, the addition of Caterpillar’s latest, most efficient diesel, natural gas, and HFO generator sets can help mining operators cut their fuel costs by more than half. Even greater fuel savings may be achievable as renewables increase in efficiency and drop in cost.

“A mine can install some PV now, and then install a little more later along with energy storage and a master controller as prices continue to fall,” Schueffner said. “This phased-in approach can help mine operators enjoy immediate savings while progressively reducing fuel consumption as the economics improve.”

*This article was written by Melodie Michel from Energy and Mines.

The Energy and Mines World Congress takes place in Toronto on December 10-11, 2019.

Miners moving towards the renewable energy path, says Fitch Solutions

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The share of renewables powering the mining industry is set to rise, according to a report from Fitch Solutions, with an increasingly favourable regulatory environment, fast-falling costs and environmental considerations moving the industry away from fossil fuels.

Countries and companies operating in the Americas are best positioned to lead the way in renewable adoption, aided by carbon pricing measures and an already significant integration of ‘green’ solutions in key operations, according to Fitch.

The research arm of the Fitch ratings agency expects solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind capacity to dominate the share of renewables favoured by miners, moving forward.

This opinion is backed up by a number of recent announcements in the industry, including B2Gold opening a solar plant in Namibia, ENAPAC building the largest ever solar-powered desalination plant in Chile’s Atacama and IAMGOLD switching on the largest hybrid solar/thermal plant in Burkina Faso.

“Despite increasing social pressure to improve environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, we believe that the price motive will remain the driving factor behind mining companies’ decision to increasingly shift their energy consumption towards renewables in the short term,” the company said.

The firm’s Energy and Mines division estimates energy costs, primarily made up of grid electricity, coal, diesel or natural gas, account for up to 30% of miners’ balance sheet costs, with costs expected to increase over the coming years as ore reserve depletion leads to more energy intensive mining methods.

“In an environment where miners will remain committed to keeping costs down, the use of renewables offers significant cost-reduction potential ahead as technology improvements and larger scale being achieved among equipment manufacturers lead to falling prices, while maintenance costs are negligible compared to conventional generation,” Fitch said.

The flexibility of these solutions also offers grid-tied miners in locations where mining markets are immature or energy supplies are at risk extra security.

“For instance, Zambia’s overdependence on hydropower resulted in a tariff dispute between the government and the country’s key copper miners last year that led to power outages and production stoppages at Glencore’s Mopani Mines, one of the country’s largest,” Fitch said.

Against this backdrop, Fitch says countries already implementing widespread regulatory and policy changes in anticipation of a shift to a low carbon economy will be at the forefront of adopting renewables in mining.

Chile and Canada are two such hubs that have already introduced carbon pricing schemes to incentivise miners.

This has seen the likes of Barrick Gold, IAMGOLD, AurCrest Gold and Godlcorp invest in renewables/mine electrification in the latter country.

Chile, meanwhile, is to remain a global outperformer in terms of the number of miners adopting renewables and the total installed wind or solar capacity, according to Fitch.

“Up to nine different mining companies have installed either wind or solar-generating capacity in the country to date, including copper mining giants Codelco and Collahuasi and Antofagasta Minerals, which boasts 191.5 MW of installed solar PV capacity at its operations,” Fitch said.

Chile’s Association for Renewable Energy has projected 100% of the national grid in Chile could be powered by renewables by 2050.

India and China are also pushing forward with measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while Argentina and South Africa have proposed carbon trading schemes of their own.

And, while secondary to cost-efficiency, ESG considerations will have a growing influence on mining companies’ decision to shift their energy consumption away from fossil fuels and into renewables, Fitch said.

“We believe mining companies will intensify their investments into renewable energy, battery storage, energy efficiency and carbon capture and storage in order to improve their social licence to operate over the coming years,” the company said.

Newmont goes for CEP renewable solution at Akyem gold mine in Ghana

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Cambridge Energy Partners (CEP) has announced that Newmont Mining will use its redeployable Nomad solar PV tracker at its Akyem gold mine in Ghana as the US-based company looks to reduce carbon emissions and its energy consumption and costs.

CEP’s Nomad is a prefabricated and redeployable solar generator with single-axis tracking technology. It can be used in a variety of applications and is designed for quick deployment in scalable 30 kW segments.

“Energy generated by CEP’s Nomad is fully integrated into existing electrical networks to create a reliable and sustainable hybrid power system,” CEP said.

Akyem is in the Birim North District of the Eastern Region of Ghana, some 178 km northwest of Accra. It produced 473,000 oz of gold in 2017.

In Newmont’s 2017 sustainability report, the company said it had advanced a 110 kW solar project at Akyem to the contracting phase. This plant would power the camp and mess hall during daylight hours.

CEP confirmed to IM that Newmont has increased this project to 120 kW and four Nomad units had since been installed and commissioned by local staff.

Power is currently supplied to the Akyem mine site by a 161 kV overhead line system that connects Nkawkaw and Kwae and passes through the area. According to CEP, up to 60% of this power is sourced from diesel and other fossil fuel generating plants.

CEP CEO Tom Miller said the company’s vision is to deliver lower-cost energy to all remote mining sites with its Nomad solar technology.

“In addition, the mobility of our solar technology significant mitigates the risks often associated with permanent solar installations,” he said.