In October’s Resources Review, innovation in mining was spotlighted, along with how MTGA is helping to drive this change across the industry. Now, we take that conversation further. In this expanded article, we explore the evolving technologies propelling energy efficiency and decarbonisation in mining — from battery-powered trailers to IoT-enabled systems. We unpack how companies like MTGA are turning ambitious environmental goals into rugged, reliable solutions built for the toughest conditions.
As the Australian Government’s 2030 and 2050 decarbonisation targets creep closer, there is growing pressure on mining companies to reduce their emissions and improve their environmental footprint.
Mining is an energy-intensive exercise, contributing a significant share of global emissions. It’s therefore imperative these companies find a way to solve the decarbonisation conundrum so the targets can be met.
Mining Technicians Group – Australia (MTGA) is one company helping to drive the necessary shift in the way mines need to operate. Specialising in the installation, maintenance and manufacturing of mining systems technologies and communications, the MTGA team design elegant, high quality, simple solutions for complicated products, all of which naturally lean towards greener delivery.
“We custom build a broad range of mining products, from mobile hybrid communications systems to access control solutions and advanced monitoring and control technology. Most of our solutions involve customer-driven development, which includes energy efficiency and decarbonisation considerations,” said MTGA Managing Director, Michael Hansen, who sports a degree in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship, but whose real passion lies in design.
There is growing demand by customers, regulators, and investors for traceable, low-carbon supply chains, and for “clean” or “green” materials and metals. MTGA has long had a ‘Decarbonisation Range’ of products in its portfolio, offering high-performance solutions without the emissions. The battery power trailer, for example, is a silent, low-maintenance alternative to diesel generators. And the battery wash-down trailer is a portable high-pressure washer powered entirely by lithium battery banks. These fully electric alternatives to traditional fossil-fuelled systems have been designed to help reduce onsite emissions without compromising on power or productivity.
Yet Hansen would argue it’s not all about decarbonisation and energy efficiency, although that does have a major impact on design. He says it’s equally about efficiency and uptime, and reduced maintenance requirements – something MTGA considers across its entire product range.
“We use solar and renewable energy because it’s reliable and consistent from a maintenance point of view. When you have products being shipped out for use in remote, rugged areas, having to withstand corrosive dust and extreme weather conditions, you don’t want to worry about equipment failure. Diesel-powered generators have many potential points of failure and so demand a more regular servicing regime. Our products are built to keep operating in the harshest of conditions, and where regular servicing just isn’t possible. The key lies in product reliability and designing for durability. The decarbonisation push has simply expanded on what we already do.”
Hansen also highlights the economic benefit from switching to solar and renewables.
“While environmental concerns are important to mining companies, economic viability remains a primary driver for their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) targets and carbon emissions reductions. When you design and build something that’s reliable, you end up with decreased operational costs from the lower maintenance requirements. The upfront costs may be a little more, but the efficiency and low-carbon energy can reduce costs over time.”
There’s a lack of specific data to demonstrate the exact return on investment for ESG targets and reduced carbon emissions. But, as Hansen highlights, a key driver is whether the switch to solar and renewables makes sense economically. He also pointed out that Australian made is crucial due to the high reliability required in mining, where even minor infrastructure issues can lead to substantial financial losses. MTGA’s commitment to in-house design, manufacturing, and even steelwork in Australia is what sets them apart from competitors.
Since 2008, the company has been learning what makes a mining product truly reliable, high quality, and durable. Being based in Western Australia has positioned them at the forefront of innovation and technology in the iron ore industry, creating a playground for product R&D, thus continual improvement.
“We don’t have a specific R&D program. By custom designing and building products for customers, innovation happens as part of our core business. It’s what we do day in, and day out. We’ve learned over 15 years how to design products from a mechanical perspective, how to weld products, how to mechanically support products. And we’ve tested the resilience of our products in harsh Australian conditions, such as in the Pilbara iron ore mine’s corrosive dust that destroys mechanical parts, and at Northern Alberta, with its extreme temperature range of -40°C to +40°C. We’ve learned everything down to the smallest thing. After all, it only takes one little component to fail for serious productivity downtime to occur. And so, every little detail is reviewed and considered for reliability and durability, as well as compliance.”
Regarding the company’s Decarbonisation Range, the dual focus on efficiency and environmental impact has been a strategic evolution for MTGA, particularly in the Australian market where solar energy is abundant. The battery power trailer and battery wash-down trailer offer fast recharge times, heavy-duty construction and customisable configurations, and are engineered for operational reliability and sustainability. And although these electric systems may have a higher upfront cost, the reduced need for frequent maintenance, such as overhauls and fuel, quickly offsets these initial costs.
Also backed up by battery power are the portable solar and hybrid power skids and trailers, which can sustain operations for up to five days without fuel, eliminating greenhouse emissions and fuel logistics.
Furthermore, MTGA’s IoT technology monitors systems and battery status to prevent unplanned downtime, ensuring correct charge profiles and efficient operation.
“These solutions become an operational expense rather than capital expense owing to the decreased maintenance and higher uptime. They start to pay themselves back,” Hansen said.
When asked how realistic it is to expect a full diesel replacement with electric solar hybrid power in the next decade, Hansen thinks it’s certainly possible.
“The biggest challenge will be replacement of the extremely large units, like those used by trucks and diggers. But replacing the smaller units would also have a huge impact owing to their vast quantities in the mining sector – for example, the generators used for lighting, welding, pressure wash trailers, pump trailers.
“Renewable energy solutions such as solar, methanol fuel cells, and wind, are also viable options, especially in Australia’s abundant solar market. The transition is a realistic and achievable goal.
“No other company does the broad reach of decarbonised or solar-based battery systems like we do. We bring the core values of our power systems and the design methodology across to everything, giving our customers one standardised company approach with very standardised components across the entire business. This is hugely beneficial to customers.
“The shift to solar and renewables is being driven by both environmental concerns and commercial sense, including lower maintenance costs, better part supply, and increased uptime. MTGA has been in the business of creating and designing these products for 15 years and plans to continue this work,” Hansen concluded.
To learn how MTGA can support your decarbonisation goals, contact our team today.
