Solar-diesel and Wind-diesel microgrids for off-grid mines gain momentum
16.05.2017: According to Dr. Thomas Hillig Energy Consulting, Iamgold Corp. has announced it is adding a new 12.5 MW solar PV plant to its Essakane gold mine in Burkina Faso. The Canadian company has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the French independent power producer Eren for an initial period of 15 years. The multinational Wärtsilä headquartered in Finland will integrate and build the solar plant.
Canadian miner Nevsun will install a 7.5 MW solar plant to reduce diesel consumption at its Bisha mine in Eritrea. Under a ten year PPA, Aggreko will provide a total of 29.5 MW of solar-diesel hybrid power to the gold and copper mine.
The recent projects »show that renewables are an attractive solution for improving mining companies’ energy cost positions,« says the consultancy. Africa and Australia are turning into »solar-for-mining hotspots«, while Canada and South America lead the development of wind-diesel hybrids.
In the beginning, mining companies had serious doubts regarding the reliability of renewables. Various prototypes, some of them subsidized, some with and some without battery storage, »have proven the concept of combining solar or wind with fossil power sources.« In addition, brands known from conventional energy such as Caterpillar, Cummins, Aggreko, Wärtsilä, and ABB increase the trust in renewable energy off-grid solutions. »The newly announced projects will speed-up the uptake. If everything turns out well, mining companies could sign another 5 to 8 PPAs for renewable energy supply before the end of 2017,« expects Hillig.
© PHOTON
Monty Bannerman
ArcStar Energy
+1-646-402-5076
www.arcstarenergy.com
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