Mining
Everything begins with mining. Mining extracts raw materials, rare metals, and sources of energy from the earth that power the global economy. While diesel-powered internal combustion engines are the primary source of power for most extractive industries, leaders in mining equipment are also developing alternatives including battery electric and hydrogen powered options for some applications.
From rare metals found in batteries and all consumer electronics, to construction materials like sand and gravel, as well as energy resources such as coal, oil and natural gas, the mining sector relies substantially on heavy equipment to extract, process, and transport these resource-rich commodities.
Demands on the global mining sector are dramatically increasing with new interest and demand for rare metals such as cobalt and lithium to build the nation’s clean energy supply chain to support electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines. Substantial efforts are being made in the US to secure these essential elements from domestic sources, creating new demands for mining equipment, technologies, and system-wide solutions.
The US gets 93% of its energy from mined sources, such as petroleum, natural gas, coal, and uranium. Extracting these resources requires equipment capable of operating continuously in demanding applications and environments, often in remote areas. Diesel-fueled internal combustion engines are the primary source of power for the global mining sector. Because of its combination of power, performance reliability, portability, durability, and fuel-efficiency, it is well-established in the mining sector.
The mining industry utilizes a wide range of essentially large-scale construction equipment such as wheel loaders, large mining trucks, and large excavators known as shovels. Specialized equipment including drills, and material handling machines play roles in extracting, transporting, and processing raw materials. Since 2014, new machines and equipment are based on the fourth generation of advanced diesel technology “Tier 4” – and achieve US EPA’s stringent emissions standards for new engines which are near zero levels of emissions.
Gaseous-fueled internal combustion engines also play a key role in the extractive mining sector. Access to crude oil and natural gas reserves utilizes heavy drills and pumps that are powered by diesel or natural gas engines. These engines can run on the field gas generated in the extraction process.
It is estimated that the mining sector utilizes nearly $7 billion worth of diesel-powered equipment. This ranges from diesel-powered shovels and drills to underground haul trucks, large excavators, and material handling equipment to extract, convey and transport for processing mined natural resources.
The mining sector has been a pioneer in efficiency innovations because of the scale and duration of the worksite, including being a leader in deployment of autonomous technologies like driverless mining haul trucks in use for several decades.
Reducing Carbon Emissions in Mining Operations
Like other industries, mine operators are making new commitments to sustainable mining and ways to reduce carbon emissions. Equipment manufacturers are aiding in this effort by introducing new fuel and power options. They’re also aiding mine operators developing integrated sustainable practices and systems, including ones based on autonomous operations.
Remote mining operations require access to continuous supplies of energy, traditionally in the form of fossil fuels, to power mobile machines and equipment. It is also needed for generating electricity to power other equipment such as conveyor and material sorting systems.
Use of low-carbon renewable biodiesel fuels in internal combustion engines is a proven and simplest option for mining and power generation applications that reduces carbon and other emissions by 50 to 85% depending on the feedstocks of the fuel. Both biodiesel and renewable diesel fuels can be used in all existing and new mining machines and equipment that utilize diesel engines. Renewable diesel fuel, being a drop-in hydrocarbon replacement for conventional diesel, can be used in blends up to 100%.
Alternatives to Internal Combustion Engines: Hydrogen and Battery-Electric
Hydrogen offers new reduced carbon options for generating on-site electric power as well as powering machines.
Underground mines present a significant opportunity for battery electric technology, foregoing the need for emissions controls and further reducing the heat generation in enclosed spaces as compared to internal combustion technology. Battery electric technology is now available in some limited classes of larger machines for these underground mining applications.