Integrating Mining & Renewable. Michel Carreau, Ph.D., AHK, February 6, 2015.

Transcription

1 Integrating Mining & Renewable Michel Carreau, Ph.D., AHK, February 6, 2015.

2 2 Integrating Mining & Renewable Power Renewable Power (Wind, Solar, ) has strong track record to deliver robust products in various climatic conditions. Mining Fossil Fuel Power has strong track record to maintain robust micro-grid operation again to significant load variations, strengthen with load shedding schemes. The cost of RP is lower than the price of Fossil Fuel and provide price certainty. The Renewable Power will play a significant role in the future of the mining industry How do we get there? What does it take?

3 3 Understanding Renewable Power Integration High upfront CAPEX Return on Investment generally more than 4 years Not the 1 to 2 years ROI often required to motivate a new investment to a mine. RP power is highly variable and not always available Change of operating paradigm to operate RP with Mining operation Low OPEX and no Fuel Cost Levelized Cost of Energy can fixed for 25 years RP Lowers the Energy Cost at the mine and Lowers the Greenhouse Gas Emission

4 4 How do we get there? What does it take? Needs Corporate willingness to move in this direction and a champion Needs well informed decision maker, know the Pros and Cons and the business case, long terms benefits and risks Use a third party owner (IPP) if the High CAPEX is a show stopper; negotiate a fair PPA between the parties with an approach of risk sharing The technology is now becoming available to integrate robustly RP on micro-grid. RP + FF : displace 10% to 20% of fossil fuel (lower risk) RP + FF + Storage + Controls : displace more than 20% of fossil fuel (higher benefits) Develop your project with the plant operators in the loop, get their Buy- In early on; it is not difficult to operation a wind and solar power farm Requires few additional specialized staffs on site for day to day maintenance of the assets. Good operator training during the first few months and constant follow up Convinced? Let s do it.

5 Challenges for wind power at remote mining sites Tugliq/Glencore project at Raglan Mine

6 6 Glencore Raglan Mine Access by plane or by sea Autonomous Micro-Grid Several Electricity Generator burning Diesel 2 nd largest cost center at the mine Mine Raglan Life Time : more than 25 years as of today. Wind Monitoring Campaign started in

7 Wind Power with Storage on Microgrid Raglan Project 7

8 Some Challenges (toward Operations) 8 Specific to Nordic Climate Operation needed at up to -40 C (average temp. 30 C for 3 months) Severe Icing conditions and Strong Wind Gust, Blizzards Special Spider Foundation (on piles) needed Mining Operation Grid stability and Genset operation constraints Compensate for reduce thermal heat reduction from the reduce diesel engine utilisation due to wind penetration Grid most be robust to Wind Power Variability (3 MW out of 16 MW not a problem but need to keep enough spinning reserves during low load) Events stopping/limiting wind turbine operation Major Icing events Turbulent wind Cut-off wind speed Cut-off or Power Reduction du to cold temperature events Miscellaneous wind turbine behavior on alarms

9 9 Blade Icing

10 10 Ultrasonic Anemometer on top of Nacelle

11 11

12 12

13 13

14 14

15 Wind Variability Operator Control (Storage to reduce variability) 15 Wind Power Curtailed control variation Excess Energy (about 300 kw or 7.2 MWh per day) Wind Power Dip Wind Power Drop

16 Conclusion 16 Renewable Power can reduce cost of energy in remote mining operations Saving increase as fuel cost increase over the 25 years period. Low RP power integration up to 20% not a technology challenge but a change in the mining culture at corporate level and the operation level : it takes time to get everyone on board and confident with the new power solution mix. PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) Yes but need shared risks, shared OPEX cost all risk can not be transferred to the IPP (Independent Power Producer) otherwise the project can not be financed In the near future, High Penetration system with Energy Storage will lead to 50+% saving this is where we need to get to achieve significant reduction in fuel consumption. And this is a challenge.