Going Green? Here’s Why You Should Choose Portable and Solar Solutions for Remote Mining

In 2013 the mining sector consumed around 547 petajoules of power. In 2023, this figure had climbed to 766 PJ, an increase of more than 40%. 

That’s about 10% of Australia’s total power use and it’s growing year over year, with no sign of slowing. It’s a big reason why many mining companies are investing in renewable energy. 

Solar, wind power, and even geothermal are all gaining popularity on mine sites, as they can offset some of the costs associated with diesel and other fossil fuels. But they can be a huge investment, especially for newer and smaller sites. Lower energy costs and emissions are attractive, but when the upfront commitment lands in the millions of dollars, things start to look less appealing. 

Not to mention the difficulty of transporting fuel to remote sites. If you’re working off-grid, everything must be planned well in advance, otherwise you risk wasting time, money and manpower on solutions you’re either not ready for, or aren’t able to fulfil your needs

Add regulation and compliance and time constraints into the mix and you’re seemingly left with only one option. 

Portable power generators.

Are Portable Generators the Only Reasonable Solution?

Currently, many sites across Australia rely on diesel generators for remote and portable power. Until now, they’ve been the de-facto power solution for mining, providing power that’s reliable and easily accessible. Being able to tow in a generator, transport fuel to the site, and get up and running with power almost instantly makes them valuable for off-grid work.

Of course, you need tanks to store diesel for ongoing use.
And you need to consider carbon emissions…
The cost of ongoing fuel expenses…
Time and money involved in maintenance…
The roaring noise of diesel generators…
Etc, etc, etc…

It’s for these reasons many mine sites are switching over to portable solar power systems. 

For example, take a look at this case study from McConnell Dowell on solar lighting in the construction industry. By replacing noisy diesel lights with solar lighting plants, they were able to save “15,000 litres of diesel, and about $20,000 in fuel and refueling costs. This is more than 40,000 kgs of carbon dioxide, the equivalent to taking nine cars off the road.”

An incredible result, achieving reduced costs for the company, lower noise levels for workers and the surrounding community, and reduced environmental impact. 

Gone are the days of unreliable, low-efficiency solar power systems. MTGA’s newest range of mobile solar lighting solutions produce 400w of power for lights outputting 50,000 Lumens, with improved batteries for 7 days of uninterrupted power. A whole week on battery power alone!

These solar power systems bridge the gap between a site’s initial power requirements and the cost of more permanent renewable energy for mining equipment and development, and have already reduced emissions and saved hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel costs for mines across the country.

Why Use Portable Solar Systems for Mining Applications?

Portable solar power is one of the best options available for powering mine sites. It’s one of the leading sustainable mining technologies, offering the benefits of solar power and the portability of a generator wrapped up in one package. And with a range of purpose-built systems to choose from, you can get the system that best fits your needs at the time. You can’t go wrong using solar renewable energy for mining equipment.

Many companies even offer the option to rent solar powered equipment, allowing you to reduce costs even further, allowing you to get the power and functionality you need without committing to large scale infrastructure from the start.

Easily Implement Green Energy Without Committing to Large-Scale Infrastructure

Modern portable solar power systems offer an easy way to power any mine site, anywhere, with renewable power. Like natural gas and diesel generators, they can be transported long distances to mine sites and start producing solar energy in remote areas instantly. 

If you have fluctuating energy needs, a versatile system of customisable, rapidly dispatchable, zero emission solar power solutions might be for you. 

Consider MTGA’s systems with portable solar systems for mining applications. All our portable products are designed with usability in mind, ensuring you can move them onsite and start taking advantage of solar power as fast as possible. With the three types of portable units we offer, you can power communications, access control, and surveillance with solar energy. 

All our units boast at least 4 days battery redundancy and are easy to set up and take down. In fact, a single person can tow and set up any of our trailers by themselves.  And with a range of options to choose from, each with increasing capabilities, you can choose the one that’s right for you and upgrade it as necessary.

Solar-Powered Communication Skids and Trailers – Reliable, off-grid communication systems

MTGA’s range of communication skids and trailers allow you to power communications equipment with solar energy in remote areas. Compared to traditional portable communications systems, they require far less maintenance and cost less to run. Our communications trailers and skids can even run on battery power alone for 4-7+ days, depending on the model chosen.

And like all our products, they’re designed based on the needs of real Australian mine sites, making them durable enough to take off-road and off grid.

Solar Access Control Systems – Secure, Solar-Powered Boom Gates

Imagine towing an access control system into place, pressing a few buttons and getting to work, without any further setup. Our solar powered boom gates do exactly that. There’s no external connection required outside of the remote controls, and any power they need comes directly from the sun. 

With rental options available you can get as many or as few as you need, for as long as you need them, making them an incredibly cost-effective solution. For shifting sites with changing security needs, portable, solar powered boom gates are the perfect solution.

Solar Surveillance Trailers – Mobile Site Monitoring Powered by Renewable Energy

MTGA surveillance trailers ensure you’ve got complete visibility over a site from day one. With 24/7 power from the attached solar power system and batteries, you can be sure everything is captured and monitored. 

Each unit offers real time remote monitoring capabilities and simple to use systems, meaning anyone on your team can set them up and start monitoring in just a few minutes. Simply power on the system and raise the mast to start recording and monitoring.

Make The Jump to a Permanent Solar Solution

If portable options are too small for your needs, there are now semi-permanent systems available as well. Solutions like our Base Stations offer portability as well as advanced functionality, supporting more solar panels, higher-power devices and more options. And because they’re designed  based on your needs, they arrive ready to use from day one, reducing set up and maintenance times. They’re an incredibly cost-effective option for sites that don’t require permanent infrastructure. 

Alternatively, if you have larger, more long-term needs, a permanent custom solar infrastructure might be the correct choice. While you can continue to add portable and semi-portable systems to your setup, permanent solar infrastructure will give you long lasting benefits, such as lower running costs, greater control over the system, and higher solar power generation capacity.

Getting The Remote Mining Power Solutions That Are Right for You

Off-grid power solutions for mining sites are more advanced than ever. The switch to renewable energy doesn’t have to be a massive jump anymore. Instead, you can get the pieces that are right for your needs now and start reaping the benefits of renewable energy today. There are even hybrid energy systems available that make use of gas, solar, and battery energy storage to ensure you’ve always got power available and make the transition even easier.

Get Started with Solar Powered Mining

If you’re interested in learning more about how renewable energy can benefit you, get in touch with the MTGA team today. We’ll guide you through your options and answer any questions you have to make sure you get the most out of new sustainable mining technologies.