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There’s no sugar coating it. Mining is one of Australia’s biggest obstacles to a clean energy future. Our mining industry makes up around 10% of Australia’s total energy use, a number which is only growing each year. And this power use can’t be sustained on coal alone.
However, this means it’s also one of our biggest opportunities. You see, without mining, Australia grinds to a halt. We’re one of the world’s largest producers of minerals like aluminium ore, iron ore, lithium, gold, lead, and copper, all of which are essential for building wind turbines, solar panels and batteries.
In other words, mining needs renewable energy, and renewable energy needs mining.
So, how can we make mining sustainable? The answer lies in green energy mining and decarbonisation.
What is Green Mining?
Green mining refers to an environmentally sustainable approach to extracting, processing, and distributing minerals, metals and fossil fuels. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of mining activities to zero, while still being able to access the minerals we need.
Green mining is a bit of a blanket term, so you’ll hear things like ‘net zero’, ‘mining decarbonisation’, or ‘sustainable mining’. Just know that they all refer to the same goal of balancing greenhouse gas emissions produced and greenhouse gas emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
Green mining plays a huge part in this, driving us forward in minimising mining’s environmental impact. In Australia, it usually refers to things like:
- Using renewable energy, such as solar, hydroelectric and wind to power mining,
- Capturing carbon dioxide emissions and storing them underground,
- Investing in reforestation to remove carbon from the atmosphere,
- Rehabilitating land that has been previously mined,
- And developing sustainable, more efficient mining technologies, such as batteries, solar powered systems, and more.
Renewable Energy’s Role in Mining
It might seem like decarbonising mining, especially coal mining, is impossible. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Coal is essential for providing power as we develop more green energy solutions, smoothing the transition to sustainable mining.
The long-term benefits of renewable energy are very attractive, especially when it comes to mining. Batteries and solar panels are more efficient than ever, and the remote regions mines often operate in make renewable energy far more affordable than fossil fuels.
Where remote mines once needed to build new power plants and transport resources like coal and natural gas to run, now they can access solar panels, wind turbines, and battery storage networks at a far lower cost. Not to mention the fact that any additional energy produced can help power local communities and create other opportunities for the mines.
And with a range of portable solutions now available, setting a mining operation up with solar power is easier than ever before.
Mobile Solar Power Solutions for Remote Mining
At MTGA, we believe renewable energy is a key part of mining’s future. To assist the transition to sustainable mining, we design and manufacture a range of portable, solar solutions for remote mining. Each of these is designed to help with decarbonisation, offering portable, renewable solutions for many major mining needs, including communication, power, and security.
Our solutions include:
Solar-Powered Communication Skids and Trailer
These reliable, off-grid communication systems are designed to power communications across sites of any size. They’re an all in one solution, powering as much or as little as you need to connect and communicate.
Solar Access Control Systems
Like our communications skids and trailers, our solar access control systems and solar powered boom gates are fully off-grid, allowing you to easily create compliant, access restricted spaces and regulate access to operational zones.
Solar Surveillance Trailers
Need to keep an eye on what’s going on? Simply tow in a solar powered surveillance trailer and you’ve got complete visibility in any area. No need for complicated wiring set ups or networking. Get solar powered CCTV, microphones, alarm systems, facial recognition and more in one package.
How You Can Benefit from Sustainable Mining Solutions
But the best part of solar powered systems like these is the option to be completely mobile. Choose a trailer or a skid and place it into position, right where you need it. You can install as many or as few as you need, with different sized systems boasting different capabilities. Each connects seamlessly into a network, scaling with the size of your mine site.
And because they’re solar powered, they’ll continue operating regardless of where you put them, as long as they’ve got sunlight. And even then, if there’s not enough sunlight the in-built battery can power your system for upwards of 5 days.
There are no greenhouse gas emissions, no need to transport fuel for generators, no need to worry about fuel and oil spills, and easier cleanup after the job is done. Perfect for scaling fast, flexibly making changes, and getting the results you need, all at a lower cost to your wallet and the environment.
Are Mobile Solar Power Mining Solutions Right for You?
At the end of the day, only you can make the decision to go solar. However, MTGA can help. If you have any questions about our solutions, green energy mining, or how solar can benefit your mining projects, get in touch with our team today.
We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have and create a tailored solution that meets the needs of your project. Reach out to us via email or give us a call today to get started.
