A review of renewable energy practices in the Australian mining industry

Strazzabosco, A; Gruenhagen, JH; Cox, S

A review of renewable energy practices in the Australian mining industry

Strazzabosco, A Gruenhagen, JH Cox, S

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Publisher:: PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Renewable Energy, 2022, 187, pp. 135-143
Issue Date:: 2022-03-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Strazzabosco, A
dc.contributor.author	Gruenhagen, JH
dc.contributor.author	Cox, S
dc.date.accessioned	2023-01-29T03:07:11Z
dc.date.available	2023-01-29T03:07:11Z
dc.date.issued	2022-03-01
dc.identifier.citation	Renewable Energy, 2022, 187, pp. 135-143
dc.identifier.issn	0960-1481
dc.identifier.issn	1879-0682
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/165554
dc.description.abstract	Mining companies have increasingly shown interest in renewable electricity generation to address rising energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations. Yet, the extent to which renewable energy sources are currently adopted by these companies is unknown. This work quantifies and characterises the current level of renewable energy adoption by Australian mining houses and the evolution of renewable energy technology adoption in this industry over time. Moreover, this work contributes to an increased understanding of factors driving or inhibiting the adoption of renewable energy in mining. In 2021, only 7% of the existing mines had or were planning to have a renewable energy system. Of the total renewable energy systems identified in this analysis, 15 were operational, 2 were under construction and 10 have been announced and planned for possible future deployment. The analysis of historical changes in renewable energy technology has highlighted that 70% of the existing operational systems have only been installed since 2019. The characteristics of the mines highly affect the decision to deploy renewable energy systems. 70% of the renewable energy systems analysed in this study were or are planned to be deployed on-site at off-grid mines powered by diesel and/or gas. Solar photovoltaic is the preferred renewable energy technology for mining operations, installed or proposed for 92% of the 27 projects included in this study. By providing a detailed picture of past and current trends of renewable energy adoption, this study identifies weaknesses and points of intervention in the emerging market for renewables in mining. In doing so, it offers guidance to policy and decision makers for the development of informed solutions to increase renewable energy uptake in mining.
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
dc.relation.ispartof	Renewable Energy
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.renene.2022.01.021
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering, 0913 Mechanical Engineering, 0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
dc.subject.classification	Energy
dc.title	A review of renewable energy practices in the Australian mining industry
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	187
utslib.for	0906 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
utslib.for	0913 Mechanical Engineering
utslib.for	0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Provost
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Provost/TD School
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-01-29T03:07:09Z
pubs.publication-status	Published
pubs.volume	187

Abstract:

Mining companies have increasingly shown interest in renewable electricity generation to address rising energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from their operations. Yet, the extent to which renewable energy sources are currently adopted by these companies is unknown. This work quantifies and characterises the current level of renewable energy adoption by Australian mining houses and the evolution of renewable energy technology adoption in this industry over time. Moreover, this work contributes to an increased understanding of factors driving or inhibiting the adoption of renewable energy in mining. In 2021, only 7% of the existing mines had or were planning to have a renewable energy system. Of the total renewable energy systems identified in this analysis, 15 were operational, 2 were under construction and 10 have been announced and planned for possible future deployment. The analysis of historical changes in renewable energy technology has highlighted that 70% of the existing operational systems have only been installed since 2019. The characteristics of the mines highly affect the decision to deploy renewable energy systems. 70% of the renewable energy systems analysed in this study were or are planned to be deployed on-site at off-grid mines powered by diesel and/or gas. Solar photovoltaic is the preferred renewable energy technology for mining operations, installed or proposed for 92% of the 27 projects included in this study. By providing a detailed picture of past and current trends of renewable energy adoption, this study identifies weaknesses and points of intervention in the emerging market for renewables in mining. In doing so, it offers guidance to policy and decision makers for the development of informed solutions to increase renewable energy uptake in mining.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/165554