THE LEADER VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 10
Playing the right electrification hand
Editorial Director Paul Moore BSc ( Hons ), MSc Email : paul @ im-mining . com
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At MINExpo 2021 in Las Vegas , which despite the pandemic travel challenges IM was able to attend , the subject on everyone ' s lips was the ambitious interim ( 2030 ) and final ( 2050 ) emissions reduction targets that the major mining companies have set for themselves and how the major mining equipment suppliers will help them get there . By and large , the major mining equipment OEMs are taking similar routes – with battery combined with trolley definitely a main push in terms of an interim solution at the show , potentially evolving to battery with fast charging . Both of these are also the main focus of the Charge On Innovation Challenge that recently announced a shortlist of 21 technology suppliers who are now taking part in a pitch session followed by a deep dive into the innovative solutions proposed .
And of course away from the show , Anglo American and Fortescue Future Industries are also making rapid progress with their FCEV solutions mainly powered by hydrogen fuel cells – FFI already has its prototype running in Australia – a converted 221 t Terex MT4400 AC truck . Anglo ' s truck is based on a 291 t 930E and all eyes will be on Mogalakwena when its first movement is announced – this is expected imminently .
Back to the show and the OEM take on the way forward . Liebherr ' s Oliver Weiss , Executive Vice President R & D , Engineering and Manufacturing , outlined its Zero Emission Program – which starts with the here and now and its already comprehensive trolley assist truck and electric excavator experience and offer . By 2030 , however , it will develop three drivetrain options to achieve near zero emissions for its off-highway trucks : battery power module , internal combustion engines powered by renewable fuels , and H2 fuel cell-battery power module . Liebherr had a 305 t T 274 truck at its booth in trolley set up powered by its D9816 engine , showing just how far it has come on its vertical integration journey .
Over at the Komatsu stand was its Power Agnostic Truck – which is its development platform , based on the basic 830E truck . But it has been completely redesigned to allow testing of different energy sources . This one happened to be a battery charged by trolley configuration . The truck has been running at Komatsu ’ s Arizona Proving Grounds under battery power using a static charging setup until now , though during the show the company told IM it is completing a trolley line at the facility . The truck is made for ease of assembly and operation – so that it is easy to convert it to different power sources . The prototype is also capable of autonomous operation meaning the company can trial both battery power and autonomy at the same time . Komatsu has teamed up with several of its customers to form the Komatsu Greenhouse Gas ( GHG ) Alliance , the founding members of which are Rio Tinto , BHP , Codelco and Boliden to collaborate on emmisions reductions .
IM also had discussions with Hitachi & ABB at the show – who are working together on a battery-trolley truck , with ABB also having launched its eMine portfolio of electrification technologies to make the allelectric mine possible from mine to port , including its eMine FastCharge solution , designed to interface with all makes of electric mining haul trucks . A meeting with Siemens focussed on its patented Zero-Emission solution , which combines on-board energy storage with an off-board power supply through its proven trolley assist . Also at the show was engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce Power Systems – that outlined its mining truck hybrid concept which recovers braking energy and utilises the mtu EnergyPack battery system . It is also working with FLANDERS Inc on the supply of power electronics and controls to allow for a retrofit version of the solution .
Last but not least , when Caterpillar plays its hand everyone sits up and takes notice . On September 12 , just before MINExpo 2021 opened , I had a unique opportunity to sit down for an extended discussion with Denise Johnson , Caterpillar Group President , and Brian Weller , Chief Engineer and General Manager , Resource Industries Electrification , talking everything from helping customers hit carbon reduction targets to the challenges and opportunities of combining battery haulage with autonomy . Johnson stated : “ The crystallisation of fixed dates you mention from the major mining houses over the last 12-18 months created much more of a roadmap to which we had to put hard development targets on – and also I think accelerated our roadmap . It gave us more clarity on the path forward and when you make commitments to investors as these companies have , they have to deliver on those reductions .” She added that on large mining trucks , it has significant development work underway and will have customers to the Tucson Proving Ground next year to see its integrated solutions in person , including prototype large mining trucks .
Weller added when asked about power-agnostic solutions : “ If you mean that we are open to a number of future power solutions – battery and hydrogen being two , but also others – then yes we are open to multiple options depending on what the customer needs . The customers are on what I like to call a glide path . They have a stack of carbon generating sources – everything from forklifts in the maintenance shop to the conveyors and the trucks . Every single mine site has to look at where carbon is being produced and then decide over time when to replace it and with what technology . That recipe is very unique to that site , location , asset base and life of mine .”
The discussion was certainly timely – just two days later on September 14 , Caterpillar and Rio Tinto jointly announced a Memorandum of Understanding for Cat ’ s development of zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks for use at Rio ’ s new Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia . The partners will advance the development of Cat ' s future 220 t 793 zero-emissions autonomous haul truck including the validation of Caterpillar ’ s emerging zero-emissions technology . Caterpillar had also previously announced a deal with BHP on August 31 to develop zero-emissions battery powered large mining trucks .
Paul Moore Editorial Director paul @ im-mining . com
OCTOBER 2021 | International Mining 3