Dawson coal mine near Moura, Queensland, operated by Anglo American and Mitsui companies. Image: ABBA
ABB has launched its ABB Ability eMine, a new portfolio of electrification technologies set to fully facilitate all-electric mines from pit to port.
The zero-carbon mine solution can electrify mining equipment across hauling, hoisting, grinding and material handling, and has been furnished with digital applications to monitor and optimise energy usage.
From 2022, the Ability eMine will be accompanied by ABB’s new Ability eMine FastCharge technology, an innovation further accelerating charging for electric haul trucks with up to 600 kilowatts of power.
Currently in its pilot phase, the Ability eMine FastCharge is being designed to weather the harshest environments, aiming to provide haul trucks charging accessibility anywhere on site.
While charge time depends on a haul truck’s battery capacity and operational profile, the eMine FastCharge has shown it can achieve a suitable state of charge in 15 minutes.
The Ability eMine also comes alongside its own Ability eMine Trolley System, aimed at reducing diesel consumption by up to 90 per cent.
ABB global head of mining Max Luedtke said the Ability eMine forms part of a larger motivation for the company.
“The global mining industry is undergoing one of the most significant and important transformations of our generation – and that is to become zero-carbon,” he said.
“ABB Ability eMine is an exciting milestone to help convert existing mining operations from fossil fuel energy to all-electric. Mines can become ever more energy efficient with vastly reduced levels of carbon dioxide emissions, while at the same time staying competitive and ensuring high productivity.”
ABB Australia head of mining Nik Gresshoff said Australian mining organisations need to start thinking more strategically about their operational sustainability.
“The pressure on Australian mining companies to become more sustainable has intensified,” Gresshoff said.
“Every company is asking the question: how do we get to net zero emissions? We are committed to lead the sustainable decarbonisation within the Australian mining sector through the energy transition while leveraging the ABB Ability eMine solutions.”