Dr Barry Flannery, Xerotech, Ireland, provides an insider’s perspective on the fundamentals of electrifying a typical piece of heavy equipment for the mining industry.
I
t is an open secret in the mining industry today that virtually every original equipment manufacturer (OEM) in the world has an active electrification programme. Global trends towards sustainable and zero-emission equipment are creating tremendous pressure on manufacturers to deliver battery electric or plug-in machinery. In-market research indicates that leadership at major OEMs are forecasting up to 50% mine equipment electrification by 2025, and near-full electrification by 2030. Eliminating emissions from underground equipment can reduce mine OPEX by as much as 15 – 20% per year through ventilation system electricity savings. Furthermore, the
benefits of enhanced miner safety and air quality improvements in the underground working environment cannot be understated. Despite these obvious benefits, a new market pull has emerged in recent months with mine operators specifically mandating all-electric equipment for new mine developments. This effective ban on diesel equipment has caused many OEMs to scramble for solutions from a supply chain that is at best unprepared, and at worst non-existent. This article is an insider’s guide to the fundamentals of electrifying a typical piece of heavy equipment, with particular emphasis on: the high-voltage battery,
global mining review // July/August 2021
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