Eramet Grande Côte Mine In Senegal Is Getting 20 MW Of Photo voltaic & 11 MWh Of Battery Storage

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The Eramet Grande Côte Mine 20 MWp photo voltaic and 11 MWh battery undertaking will present clear vitality to satisfy 20% of the mine’s vitality wants and cut back carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes yearly.

The mining sector is likely one of the most vitality intensive sectors. Large mines could be situated near the grid and therefore have entry to the grid. Nevertheless, in some locations, electrical energy from the grid might not at all times be accessible, particularly in areas with weak and intermittent grids. A number of mines additionally function in distant areas far-off from the grid and therefore are totally off-grid. In each instances, mining corporations usually have a fleet of huge fossil fueled turbines to make sure energy uptime, and due to this fact mining corporations typically have a big diesel/heavy gas oil invoice as effectively.

Historically, operators of those mines didn’t actually have some other viable alternate options. Nevertheless, that is beginning to change. Technological advances in areas such because the manufacturing of upper effectivity photo voltaic panels, in addition to superior lithium-ion batteries, has resulted in these applied sciences changing into extra available, and inexpensive. These applied sciences now even have an extended observe file as their deployment in large-scale tasks continues to develop each in utility-scale purposes in addition to behind the meter. This has helped inject extra confidence available in the market as tasks that embody each photo voltaic PV and battery storage now supply a robust worth proposition in contrast with the normal fossil gas powered backup turbines. The principle driver of this adoption is the numerous operational value discount derived from including these applied sciences to their operations, aided by the drastic drop in costs of photo voltaic panels and batteries over the previous ten years. This has made it potential for these applied sciences to be aggressive with conventional sources.

JUWI South Africa, a part of the worldwide JUWI Group which develops photo voltaic, wind, and hybrid renewable vitality options, says extra mining corporations in Africa and around the globe are transitioning to renewable vitality to make the most of the advantages these applied sciences present.

In accordance with Richard Doyle, Managing Director, JUWI South Africa, “this elevated adoption of renewables within the mining sector is being pushed by a number of advantages together with decreased operational prices, value safety (hedging of long-term vitality value), elevated vitality reliability, and decreased emissions and environmental impression as  mining corporations have more and more stringent ESG targets to satisfy.” For grid-tied photo voltaic PV tasks with out battery storage, utility-scale renewable vitality is now less expensive than standard fossil-fuel based mostly vitality provided by the grid.

The newest mine to embark on this journey to undertake photo voltaic PV and battery storage is Eramet Grande Côte, a subsidiary of the French multinational mining and metals firm Eramet, and South Africa’s JUWI Renewable Energies has reached monetary shut on a €30 million (ZAR 600 million) off-grid photo voltaic photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage answer for the mine in Diogo, Senegal.

The 20 MWp photo voltaic and 11 MWh battery undertaking will present clear vitality to satisfy 20% of the mine’s vitality wants, cut back carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes yearly, and create over 100 jobs throughout its building and upkeep phases. The off-grid hybrid set up, among the many largest in Senegal, will cut back the mine’s reliance on heavy gas oil, enhance manufacturing stability, and align with Eramet’s international decarbonization technique. The funding helps the Eramet Group’s Science-Based mostly Targets initiative (SBTi) roadmap, which goals for a 40% discount in CO₂ emissions by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

Along with driving sustainable mining, the undertaking performs a vital position in advancing Senegal’s clear vitality transition, with the nation aiming to cut back greenhouse gasoline emissions by round 7% by 2025. By leveraging JUWI’s experience in off-grid photo voltaic and storage options, alongside its engineering capabilities for advanced floor situations, and Eramet Grande Côte and Eramet’s dedication to sustainability, the undertaking units a brand new benchmark for innovation within the mining sector.

“Our funding on this solar energy plant displays Eramet Grande Côte’s and Eramet’s dedication to creating the decarbonisation of our actions a high precedence, consistent with the worldwide local weather emergency, ” stated Frederic Zanklan, CEO, Eramet Grande Côte.

“The clear vitality produced by this plant will considerably improve Eramet Grande Côte’s environmental efficiency. Our purchasers will profit from merchandise with elevated environmental worth. As the primary mine in Senegal to be ISO 50 001 and 14 001 licensed, Eramet Grande Côte is taking one other necessary step in addressing the local weather challenges all of us face.”

“As a part of our dedication to Africa’s vitality transition, we’re thrilled to accomplice with Eramet Grande Côte on their first off-grid photo voltaic and storage undertaking and to help Senegal’s bold carbon emissions targets,” stated Richard Doyle, MD, JUWI Renewable Energies.

“Sustainable mining applied sciences are essential in lowering the environmental impression of commercial operations, particularly as many African mining operations depend on hydrocarbon fuels because of the continent’s restricted grid infrastructure. By integrating renewable vitality and storage into mining, we cut back carbon footprints, enhance operational effectivity, and strengthen long-term vitality resilience. We’re proud to make use of JUWI’s expertise in delivering hybrid vitality options throughout Africa to assist advance sustainable mining and Africa’s clear vitality transition.”

It’s nice to see one other giant mine on the African continent adopting photo voltaic PV and battery storage. As the prices of photo voltaic and batteries proceed to go down, co-location of huge photo voltaic and batteries at these sorts of campuses and operations will grow to be normal.

Photographs courtesy of JUWI