HIGH PROFILE
Decarbonisation pathways
Latest generation diesel engines , such as this Cummins QSK60 Two-Stage Tier 4 Final engine for mining trucks , are playing an important role in helping mines decarbonise today . It provides over 20,000 hours of operation before requiring an engine overhaul . This engine can then be rebuilt over three times throughout its lifetime , significantly reducing the potential total cost of ownership ( TCO ) for miners
aggressive with interim 2030 targets so are trying to make big moves now ; others are more focused on 2050 net zero and seeing what the next decade brings .”
At MINExpo 2024 , IM Editorial Director Paul Moore talked to Molly Puga , Cummins Power Systems Executive Director of Strategy , Digital and Product Planning about bridge technology to decarbonisation in mining
Cummins is globally known as a leader in mining engines used throughout the world on mining trucks and excavators , including all Komatsu mining machines . Its QSK50 , QSK60 and QSK78 engines are renowned for their performance across all mining types and conditions , such as high altitude and temperature extremes . But of course Cummins , like its customers , is looking to the future and options on the route to net zero .
During MINExpo 2024 , IM Editorial Director Paul Moore sat down with Molly Puga , Cummins Power Systems Executive Director of Strategy , Digital and Product Planning , to talk about just that .
She commented : “ Our view is that eventually , zero carbon solutions make sense for mining . If you look at Cummins as a corporation , we have a large onhighway business and have invested a lot in batteries and battery technology , as well as hydrogen , related to that . One reason for that is that the adoption curve in on-highway is coming much more quickly . So to date all of our major zero carbon investments organically have been in that sector . As we think about mining , our view is that battery electric vehicles are the most likely technology end state , but that there are a lot of practicalities , especially related to energy distribution and charging infrastructure plus the capital involved in things like overhead catenary lines , fast chargers , etc ., that make it not necessarily the most pragmatic solution for now . Plus , even looking at that end state , there are some mines which lend themselves well to electrification and some which don ’ t ; it depends on your ability to get enough power to the mine site .”
There are always early adopters and slow adopters , plus Puga pointed out there is still a vast swathe of the mining sector that is still using sub-Tier 4 Final engines , so there are still huge emissions wins to be had from that process panning out as well . Plus , as of 2023 , all Cummins high-horsepower engines are approved for unblended use with 100 % HVO , allowing miners to utilise renewable diesel , generating emissions saving while maintaining power output .
Similar to the truck OEMs , Cummins believes that multiple technologies will play a role in the mining powertrain of the future and that there will be no one size fits all . “ Miners are looking at some of these solutions but some are moving faster , often based on pressure from investors and how they have set interim decarbonisation targets and ESG goals . Some of these are being
Two pathways to decarbonise
Cummins ’ strategy is two pathways to decarbonise : “ First there is an electrification pathway that starts ideally with an existing diesel-electric powertrain , adding a battery to create a hybrid stepping stone solution , then eventually you remove the engine and have an all battery powertrain .”
Cummins has already succeeded in demonstrating a hybrid step – in March a hybrid NHL NTH260 , 220 t mining truck rolled off the production line in Baotou and is running at Baiyun Iron Mine . The Cummins ’ optimised hybrid system allowed the truck engine to be downsized from the previous 2,500HP QSK60 to the current 2,000HP two-stage QSK50 . Cummins also supplied power electronics , the battery module and the integration across the powertrain . Cummins says advanced hybrids have the potential to improve fuel efficiency up to 30 % dependent on the mine profile and advanced battery technology and controls integration .
Puga adds : “ Our strategy is to create modular building blocks that allow you to make the same architecture choices to allow for this route to eventual electrification with the minimal amount of tear up required on the vehicle as possible . Plus , if you wanted to make one of the step changes as part of a
Molly Puga , Cummins Power Systems Executive Director of Strategy , Digital and Product Planning
NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2024 | International Mining 25