Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol.

Renewables in Mining:
Rethink, Reconsider, Replay
More than just a cost play, renewables
offer a distinct competitive advantage
Thought leadership series | Vol. 2 1
 Renewables in Mining |
 Thought
Though Leadership
leadership Series
series | Vol. 2 Renewables
Renewables
in Mining
in Mining |
| Though
 Thought
Leadership
leadership
Series | series
Vol. 2

In September 2016, off the back of a

major storm, the state of South Australia
experienced an extensive blackout in
which residential and commercial properties
were left without electricity for days.
The financial implications of Subsequently, this event provided
this blackout were felt strongly a catalyst for Australian miners,
by many of the state’s miners, both those with and without
including BHP, who lost in excess assets in the state of South
of US$100 million in the forced Australia, to take a hard look at
shutdown at their Olympic Dam their energy management
mine. The long-held assumptions requirements in the short
around the reliability of grid- and long term, and in many
connected electricity over off-grid cases to rethink the place of
or ‘behind-the-meter’ solutions renewables going forward.
were called into question.

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

Realising the full benefits from renewables

involves more than installing a solar array or
wind turbines, it requires a willingness to
rethink operational processes and to
reconsider the way work is done.

Introduction
With renewable energy fast- The initial article in this
becoming a mainstream energy series explored how miners
source, mining companies have can drive value through energy
a material opportunity to use management across the social,
renewables to lower costs, environmental and financial
improve safety, reliability and triple bottom-line. As a
sustainability, and mitigate risks follow-on, this piece takes a
to ultimately gain a competitive deep dive into renewables
advantage. Realising the full as a compelling part of the
benefits from renewables involves energy management
more than installing a solar array business case.
or wind turbines, it requires a
willingness to rethink operational
processes and to reconsider
the way work is done.

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

The changing
landscape of
renewables
Energy is one of the biggest The renewables landscape has A recent report by Finkel 20172
expenses for mining companies, evolved dramatically in the past LEVELISED COST OF ELECTRICITY (LCOE) helps dispel this misperception
constituting approximately couple of years. Today, major The levelised cost of electricity is the net cost to by detailing the levelised cost
30 percent of total cash operating mining companies – ironically, install, operate and maintain an electricity system, of energy (LCOE) for different
costs, therefore the rewards of even some of the world’s largest divided by its expected life-time electricity output. forms of electricity generation
shaving off even a fraction of suppliers of fossil fuels – seek to It is commonly measured in $/MWh. expressed in the average AUD
energy usage can be considerable. use more renewable energy in per megawatt hour (MWh):
Mining companies understand an effort to drive down costs and
the criticality of energy to enable curtail emissions1. This is due, >L
 arge scale Solar PV -
production and many realise the at least in part, to shifts in the AU$91/MWh (US$69/MWh) in
benefits that come from managing levelised cost of renewable power 2020 decreasing to AU$61/MWh
energy efficiently through as compared to traditional fossil (US$46/MWh) in 2030
operational designs that don’t fuels, with renewables having
> Large scale Solar PV with
rely solely on grid or renewable already achieved parity in
battery storage - AU$138/MWh
sources. However, while energy some instances, and fast-
(US$105/MWh) in 2020 decreasing to
management practices are approaching it in others.
AU$87/MWh (US$66/MWh) in 2030
becoming more prevalent in the Nevertheless, perceptions
sector, some have yet to integrate about the cost of solar and wind >G
 as CCGT – AU$83/MWh
renewable energy sources and power have largely not kept pace (US$63/MWh) in 2020 increasing to
enabling technologies, such as with this new reality, with many AU$93/MWh (US$71/MWh) in 2030
solar and wind power and smart miners still thinking of renewables
>G
 as OCGT - AU$123/MWh
storage, into their energy by default as the higher cost
(US$93/MWh) in 2020
management programs. This may option for mines operating
increasing to AU$135/MWh
be due to lagging perceptions both on and off the grid.
(US$102/MWh) in 2030
about where renewables stand
today in terms of complexity, >W
 ind - AU$92/MWh (US$69/MWh)
cost, reliability, and performance. in 2020 decreasing to AU$79/
MWh (US$60/MWh) in 2030.

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

The changing landscape of renewables (Cont.)

Far from slowing, this trend In 2014, total power generation Again, perceptions around mine closes around 202311. In
in the declining costs of from diesel, hydraulic and wind reliability appear to lag the order to withstand the harsh
renewables appears to be farm sources at the mine reached evolution of renewable subarctic climate, the wind
gaining momentum globally. 42.24 GWh at a total cost of technology. The viability of turbines have been specially
The International Renewable US$6.3M6. Of that, the wind farm combining solar or wind with designed and demonstrated to
Energy Agency (IRENA) projects generated 3.4 GWh of power at fossil-fuel power sources has operate in temperatures as low as
the cost of electricity from solar an average cost of US$21.6/MWh, been demonstrated by various -40 Celsius, exceeding the industry
and wind power technologies contributing 8.1% of total onsite prototypes, some of which have standard of -30 Celsius and
could fall by at least 26% and power generation7. This compared proven to be technically reliable building on Canadian expertise in
as much as 59% between to an average cost of US$254.5/ even in extreme conditions, cold-climate wind technology12.
2015 and 20253. MWh for diesel generation8. such as the Arctic. The Diavik
Wind Farm offers a case in point. Other developments are also
One doesn’t have to dig deep In addition to cost, reliability is Located on an island in a remote helping to put concerns about
to find an example of how another often-cited reason for subarctic lake in Northern Canada, technical reliability to rest. Big
renewables can play a role not considering renewables, the 9.2 megawatt (MW) farm is the name players in conventional
in lowering operating costs. but here too these concerns world’s most northern large-scale energy solutions, such as
Consider the El Toqui Wind have largely been addressed. wind-diesel hybrid power system9. Caterpillar, Cummins, Aggreko,
Farm in Chile, now owned by When speaking about renewables, The project was developed and is Wärtsilä and ABB are active in
the Australian company, Laguna there are two facets to reliability. owned and operated by Diavik hybrid diesel-renewable markets,
Gold Limited4. Like many mines, The first relates to the efficacy of Diamond Mines Inc. (a joint and their brand reputations are
the El Toqui operation, which the technology itself, while the venture between Rio Tinto and enhancing trust in renewable
produces zinc, lead, silver, and second relates to intermittency, Harry Winston Diamond) to help installations – not to mention that
gold, is isolated from the regional and the age-old question of, ‘What diversify energy supply, reduce new modeling and simulation
grid system. Due to the high costs happens when the wind doesn’t fuel costs, curb carbon emissions, capabilities can greatly reduce the
associated with operating its five blow or the sun doesn’t shine?’ and potentially contribute to the risk associated with implementing
diesel gensets, the previous owner company’s social license to company-specific solutions13.
invested in a small wind farm as operate10. The latter objective
an additional power source, which could possibly be achieved by
was built and commissioned in donating the farm to a Northwest
less than a year5. Territories community after the

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

An eye
on battery
Until recently, the other type of >C
 o-location of renewables with > Tesla, in partnership with the >S
 hifting high energy-intensity
reliability concern, which relates natural gas or diesel generation French battery company Neoen, work to coincide with peak solar
to intermittency, was harder to – for example, the 115MW El is building the world’s largest and wind – for instance, the
address. But that too has proven Arrayán wind power plant is lithium ion battery in South Cronimet ‘Zimbi’ mine in South
to be more manageable than the largest wind energy facility Australia – a region with Africa was facing a scenario
some anticipated, especially since in Chile14. The project was significant mining activity – to where it would have to rely on
the viability of battery storage has developed through a joint help the state address energy 1.6 MW of diesel generation
been demonstrated and the cost venture between Pattern Energy reliability issues17. The capacity to meet its annual
of utility-scale batteries is starting and Antofagasta Minerals. Via a PowerPack battery farm will power needs20. Diesel is often
to decline. With battery storage power purchase agreement, store energy from the third the single largest operating
becoming an increasingly Minera Los Pelambres, a stage of the Hornsdale Wind expense for off-grid mines, and
important, but not the only, subsidiary of Antofagasta Farm18. When complete, it will unpredictable price spikes can
part of the equation, mining Minerals and one of the world’s top 100 MW of capacity and erase profits. To help curb diesel
companies around the world have biggest copper mines, sources provide 129 MWh of energy consumption and mitigate
demonstrated that intermittency about 20% of its power needs generation to the region for fuel-price risks, the company
can be managed through a range from the plant, which reduces its balancing load and supplying built a 1MW solar photovoltaic
of techniques, including: reliance on diesel generators15. emergency back-up power19. plant as part of a solar-diesel
Under the arrangement, the hybrid system, which reduced its
remaining power is sold into the annual diesel consumption by
Chilean spot market16. about 24%21. And, to maximize
its return on investment, the
company shifts its flexible load
from peak periods during the
evening to the daytime when
solar resources are abundant22.
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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

The size
of the prize Based on our expertise, miners have the
opportunity to drive down energy costs by up to
The companies in these examples appear to 25% in existing operations and 50% in new mines
understand the size of the prize. Based on
our expertise, miners have the opportunity
to drive down energy costs by up to 25% in
existing operations and 50% in new mines
through an effective energy management
program, of which renewables are a major
component. In addition to cost savings, the
ability to reduce emissions and preserve
the mine’s social license to operate increases
the size of the prize even more. In the
context of the Paris Agreement, carbon
reduction points are a question of how –
not if – with renewables positioned to do
much of the heavy lifting in the global
decarbonisation journey. In unison with the
energy sector, mining organisations can
play an important and advantageous role in
accelerating grid transition around the world,
reaping the carbon benefits as they go.

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

Renewables
warrant “The clean-energy movement is global, it
is industry-agnostic, and it is irreversible.”

consideration MARLENE MOTYKA

Deloitte Global Renewable Energy Lead Partner

With the traditional barriers of advantage and creating As Marlene Motyka, Deloitte’s US they go about it, companies
cost and reliability diminishing, shareholder value from and Global Renewable Energy seeking to address the triple
the landscape for renewables renewables. That is because leader, points out, the commercial bottom-line of social,
has changed enough for solar and the industry is moving forward at and industrial segment is spurring environmental and financial
wind power, and perhaps even rapid pace Several large mining development of renewables value owe it to their stakeholders
geothermal, biofuels, and other companies have been integrating around the world, even surpassing to consider integrating renewables
less publicised renewable options, renewables at progressively higher policy as a driver in some regions. into their energy management
to be considered when evaluating ratios, and all four of the world’s Rapidly falling costs of solar and strategies,” said Ms. Motyka. “The
operational strategies, particularly biggest miners plan to source wind power are one reason for clean-energy movement is global,
for new mines. Yet, many remain more of their energy from this trend, but the growing it is industry-agnostic, and it is
reluctant to consider renewables. renewables, mainly to manage number of companies with irreversible,” she added.
This hesitancy is often related to costs, obtain security of supply sustainability goals is also a major
a commodity mindset, where and to curb emissions intensity23. factor. In response to increasing Following current trend lines,
miners want to have a one-to-one These developments in the mining corporate demand for clean everyone will eventually
substitute for their electricity sector are part of a larger, global energy, a host of associations and incorporate renewables. If miners
sources, only cheaper. trend toward greater procurement industry coalitions have sprung up delay in pursuing this course, they
But, companies that wait for that of renewables by corporations. to make it easier for companies to may find themselves on a higher
type of direct comparability forgo enter into power purchase cost curve than their competitors,
any chance of gaining a competitive agreements with developers and putting themselves in the
utilities or to self-generate their unenviable position of being a
own electricity by implementing high cost producer trying to
on-site solutions. Either way, preserve its margins.
miners who ignore renewables, do
so at their peril. “No matter how

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining |
 Thought leadership series

Renewables also offer important social,

health and safety, and environmental
benefits that create shareholder value,
but are harder to quantify financially.
Building
>H
 edging against future fuel-price
volatility, since solar and wind
facilities have a front-loaded cost

the case curve, i.e. high upfront costs to

build, but input costs drop to
near-zero when operational
The business case for renewables
>L
 owering operations and
can be complex, which is both
maintenance costs
a blessing and a curse.
The complexity makes it more >G
 enerating revenue from
difficult for leaders to do their due selling excess generation
diligence, but it also suggests that capacity and providing ancillary
the benefits can be far-reaching. services, such as synchronised
In terms of the war on talent, a reserve and frequency
focus on renewables is imperative regulation, to grid operators
to the attraction and retention of
> Shifting work, i.e. synchronising
a future workforce firmly focused
peak load with cheaper
on the technology and innovation
renewable energy sources,
space. Renewables also offer
thus bringing down the overall
important social, health and safety,
cost of mining operations
and environmental benefits that
create shareholder value, but are >P
 reventing penalties by
harder to quantify financially. facilitating compliance
While the cost per MWh is still the
> Increasing energy security
primary factor, it is only part of the
financial equation for renewables, >R
 educing carbon liabilities
which can potentially include: by avoiding emissions.

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

Renewables also offer important social,

health and safety, and environmental
benefits that create shareholder value,
but are harder to quantify financially.

Digital
intelligent
grid
It is important to consider the critically needed, thus making the
role of the digital intelligent grid business case more compelling.
inside the mine environment as In addition, these intelligent
well as the load and demand controls are also needed to better
characteristics of the entire mine synchronise peak shifting and
when configuring the most coordinate work storage which
optimal system, either in off-grid further reduce the need for
or on-grid conditions. Intelligent investment in energy storage.
controls at the grid edge can High penetration of renewables
enable sophisticated real-time without solely relying on energy
demand management that storage to ensure uninterrupted
could go a long way to balance supply of electricity is not possible
the grid dynamically in response without the digital intelligent grid.
to fluctuating renewable supply. This intelligent grid will eventually
The result is fewer batteries will incorporate machine learning
be needed to guarantee and artificial intelligence in order
uninterrupted power where it is to create a dynamical, optimised
energy system.

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

Much of this activity is >A

 vailability of funding and
concentrated in off-grid mines tax incentives for
where diesel fuel is very expensive renewable projects
– a scenario that offers the most
>T
 he cost of carbon and savings

Opportunities
obvious opportunity for
from emissions avoidance
integrating renewables. But,
calculating the return on such >G
 reater insight and control,

become
projects by simply comparing the including the opportunity to shift
levelised cost of renewables with work to peak power-producing
periods, by matching renewables

clearer
today’s fuel price can be deceptive.
It can even produce a ‘no go’ with digital/smart energy
decision because it doesn’t management systems
consider the full risk/reward ratio
>P
 ost-closure benefits – consider
While the business case for The unique resource and it leaves out some significant
the ROI over the life of the
renewables is strong, mining characteristics of a given location, value drivers. In building the
energy systems rather than the
companies frequently face the demand profile of the mine, business case for integrating
life of the mine. Since renewable
organisational and cultural and the distinct electricity and renewable solutions into mining
solutions often outlive the mines
barriers that make it difficult fossil fuel pricing in a particular operations, decision-makers
themselves, the asset could be
to move ahead. Responsibility region means there is no ‘one-size should additionally consider:
given back to the community as
for energy procurement and fits all’ solution. Nonetheless, an aspect of corporate
consumption is often fragmented finding a solution that works for >F
 uture fossil-fuel price volatility
responsibility; the value of this
across the organisation, and a particular situation is getting based on 10-year price forecasts
contribution in terms of brand
frequently no individual or group easier. As the data and body of from reputable analysts
enhancement and social license
is looking at energy management knowledge concerning renewables
>T
 he value of price predictability to operate (which could facilitate
from a broader integrated increases, financing becomes easier permitting and regulatory
since renewables provide
perspective. This leads to a lack more readily available, and approvals) should also be
electricity at a steady price over
of awareness of the full range of developers offer more flexibility factored in
a set period of time
renewables solutions and value- in installation design and
creation opportunities now configuration. It also helps that >T
 he risk profiles of different >G
 reater access to capital
available, as well as the inability certain areas are emerging as energy options where the mine – investors are increasingly
to articulate and evaluate solar and wind ‘hot spots’ for is located. i.e. What’s the risk pressuring miners to
what needs to be done to mining, with robust ecosystems of supply disruption? If demonstrate sustainability
take advantage of them. forming around them. At present, grid-tied, how frequently do and social license to operate.
Fortunately, the opportunities Africa and Australia lead in power outages occur? How Particularly for mid-caps, adding
for mining companies to developing solar, while Canada does this compare to the a renewable component to
integrate renewables into and South America lead in uptime of the proposed plans for building a new mine
their new or existing practices developing wind-diesel hybrids24. renewable energy solution? or expanding an existing one
are becoming clearer. could unlock barriers in
securing project financing.

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Flexible
solutions
emerge
Understandably, many mining For example, the Sandfire On the technical side, developers communities29. The company
companies do not want to invest Resources’ DeGrussa copper are also offering miners greater is in the midst of proving out the
their own capital to cover the mine in Western Australia went flexibility. For instance, some concept at scale (1MW) in
large upfront costs or to commit live in 2016 with the largest solar are prototyping mobile renewable Australia, with support from the
to long-term power purchase and battery storage project to solutions that can be dismantled Australian Renewable Energy
agreements (PPAs) that match the date25. The $40 million project and moved to other sites after Association30. In many instances,
physical lifetime of the renewable was financed by the Clean Energy the mine closes. For example, developers are also willing to
assets, which can be 20-30 years. Finance Corporation and partly the Australian arm of UK-based work with commercial and
Investors, developers, industry through a grant from the builder Laing O’Rourke originally industrial customers, such as
associations, and governments Australian Renewable Energy developed a modular solar array mining companies, to create
are responding to this concern Agency26. The French renewable to cut diesel fuel costs at the innovative, customised solutions,
by offering customised financing energy firm Neoen owns the solar company’s own remote like the solar thermal energy
solutions and shorter-term PPAs. array and also put equity toward construction sites28. Based on system commissioned by Perth-
Furthermore, an attractive feature it27. The project will allow the its initial success, the company based Agrimin Limited for its
of some of these options is that mine to run fully on solar power formed a subsidiary called potash mining project in Western
they allow renewable plants to during the daytime if coupled SunSHIFT to target the large-scale, Australia31. The plant will be
be financed off the balance sheet. with battery storage. short-term power market, used to heat water, which is a
including mining projects, off- key part of fertiliser processing32.
meter applications and remote

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 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

How to get started Conclusion

Here are a few suggestions for how to get in the Renewables have reached a Renewables developers are
position where they should be in seeking industrial customers who
game – even if your company faces cost or the consideration set, at least for can offer utility-scale opportunities,
cultural constraints: new mines. But, in analysing new ecosystems are developing,
energy options, it is short-sighted and business models exist for
to evaluate renewables purely as defraying the upfront costs and
a cost play; instead, they should sharing the value opportunity.
> Experiment on a small scale: > While it’s practical to start small
be examined as part of a broader
this is a low-risk, low-cost way in the short term, it’s prudent to
social and environmental agenda While it’s good to experiment and
to allow people within the think big in the long run. As a
in addition to their financial to perform due diligence, there is
company to become familiar ‘stretch exercise’, consider where
proposition as a replacement a danger in waiting too long.
with the concept of renewables your organisation could go with
for traditional fuel sources. There’s an optimal point in any
and to shift into an energy 100% renewables. Consider the
proposed project where a decision
management mindset and away cost savings, health and safety
To realise the fullness of these needs to be made to integrate
from the common sentiment benefits through greater
opportunities, mining companies renewables, or else the mine life
that miners ‘aren’t in the automation, and how it could
will need to challenge their capital will expire before the full benefits
business of energy.’ A key focus further your company’s
projects groups and their design of renewables can be realised.
of the trial should consider the sustainability goals.
teams to take a hard look at Similarly, on a broader scale,
capability and integration of
> Explore the ecosystem around renewable technologies, not just miners must soon decide whether
the energy system.
you and the help that’s available: as a pure substitute for existing to push forward in the direction
> Move beyond seeing government organisations, energy sources, but also as a of renewables or else they risk
renewables as more than a way industry associations, think tanks, means of doing things differently. becoming the high-cost producers
to solve a supply problem – it’s developers, operators, investors, In wading into these waters, in their respective commodities as
an opportunity to add value to and environmental groups are mining companies do not renewables increasingly become
diverse stakeholders, including all active in this space. Through have to go it alone. table stakes for competitiveness.
customers, suppliers, investors this ecosystem, regional data is
and the community. readily available on solar and
wind resources, electricity
output, storage, capital costs,
operating costs, approval times,
etc. Some of these groups also
offer financing options.

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Authors Endnotes
Barbara Lewis, Miners increase green energy
1 19
Ibid.
use to power their pits, Reuters, May 16, 2017, 20 
Sunshine for Mines: Implementing Renewable
http://www.reuters.com/article/us-miners-climat- Energy for Off-grid Operations, Carbon War Room

AUSTRALIA echange-renewables-idUSKCN18C28B, accessed

August 8, 2017.
Research Report – 2014, http://www.crm-ps.com/
upload/files/CWR14_MinesReport_singles.pdf
https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/
2 21
Ibid.
resources/1d6b0464-6162-4223-ac08-3395a6b1c- 22 
Solar projects, energy efficiency and load shifting
7fa/files/electricity-market-review-final-report.pdf for an optimized energy management in the
Average Costs for Solar and Wind Electricity Could
3
mining industry, Croniment/THEnergy Study,
Fall 59% by 2025, IRENA Press Release, June 15, September 2015, http://www.crm-ps.com/upload/
2016, http://www.irena.org/News/Description. files/2015SEPT_Study_EnergyEfficiency.pdf
aspx?NType=A&mnu=cat&PriMenuID=16&- Barbara Lewis, Miners increase green energy use
23 

CatID=84&News_ID=1452, accessed August 2, 2017. to power their pits, Reuters, May 16, 2017, http://
NYRSTAR: Laguna Gold Buys Chile Project for $25M,
4
www.reuters.com/article/us-miners-climat-
Mining Business Media, June 27, 2016, http://www. echange-renewables-idUSKCN18C28B, accessed
miningbusiness.net/content/nyrstar-laguna-gold- August 8, 2017.
buys-chile-project-25m, accessed, August 2, 2017. THEnergy Analysis: Solar-diesel and Wind-diesel
24 

David Cormack Michael Wood El Toqui Wind Farm, Chile, South America, VERGNET
5
Microgrids for Off-grid Mines Gain Momentum—
Groupe Website, http://www.vergnet.com/project/ New Projects Expected, May 15, 2017, https://www.
Partner Director
chile-el-toqui/, accessed August 2, 2017. th-energy.net/2017/05/15/thenergy-analysis-solar-
Consulting Services Risk Advisory
Ibid.
6
diesel-and-wind-diesel-microgrids-for-off-grid-
+61 423 861 116 +61 417 919 916 Ibid.
7
mines-gain-momentum-new-projects-expected,

[email protected] [email protected] Ibid. accessed August 2, 2017.

8

Davik Wind Farm: Wind Energy Helps Reduce Carbon

9 25
Pablo Crespo, Australia’s largest offgrid array
Footprint, Canadian Wind Energy Association reaches full operation, Energy and Mines, June 9,
(CanWEA), Case Study, https://canwea.ca/ 2016, http://energyandmines.com/2016/06/
wp-content/uploads/2013/12/canwea-casestudy-Dia- australias-largest-offgrid-array-reaches-full-opera-
vikMine-e-web2.pdf, accessed August 8, 2017. tion/, accessed September 5, 2017.

CANADA Ibid.
10 

Ibid.
11 
26

27
Ibid.
w Finances Major Solar Storage Project at Remote
Ibid.
12 
Mine, Clean Energy Finance Corp., July 15, 2015,
THEnergy Analysis: Solar-diesel and Wind-diesel
13 
http://www.cefc.com.au/media/files/cefc-finances-
Microgrids for Off-grid Mines Gain Momentum – major-solar-storage-project-at-remote-mine.aspx,
New Projects Expected, May 15, 2017, https://www. accessed August 7, 2017.
th-energy.net/2017/05/15/thenergy-analysis-solar- 28
Sophie Vorrath, Mobile Solar Plants to Challenge
diesel-and-wind-diesel-microgrids-for-off-grid- Diesel for Use in Mines, Construction Sites, One
mines-gain-momentum-new-projects-expected, Step Off the Grid, April 20, 2017, https://
accessed August 2, 2017. onestepoffthegrid.com.au/mobile-solar-plants-
El Arrayan Wind Project, Chile, http://www.
14 
challenge-diesel-use-mines-construction-sites/,
renewable-technology.com/projects/el-arrayn- accessed August 7, 2017.
wind-project/, accessed August 3, 2017 29
Ibid.
Jan Dodd. Remote Mines Add Wind, WindPower
15  30
Ibid.
Andrew Swart Adriaan Davidse Monthly, January 30, 2015, http://www. 31
Bridget Fitzgerald. Solar thermal energy to power
Partner Director windpowermonthly.com/article/1330527/ remote potash mine in western Australia, ABC
Consulting Services Consulting Services remote-mines-add-wind, accessed August 8, 2017. News, March 29, 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/
Ibid.
16 
news/rural/2017-03-28/agrimin-potash-mine-
+ 1 416 813 2335 +1 416 417 3967 Campbell Simpson, All the details on Tesla’s giant
17 
aims-for-70-per-cent-solar/8391136, accessed
[email protected] [email protected] Australian battery, GIZMODO AU, July 9, 2017, August 7, 2107.
https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/07/ 32
Ibid.
all-the-details-on-teslas-giant-australian-batteryt/,
accessed September 4, 2017.
18
Ibid.
26 27
 Renewables in Mining | Though Leadership Series | Vol. 2

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