Integration of Renewable Energy Sources to Achieve Sustainability and Resilience of Mines in Remote Areas
Abstract
1. Introduction
- To assess the technical and economic feasibility of achieving complete energy independence of mining facilities in remote areas through the implementation of integrated renewable energy systems, with a particular focus on solar photovoltaic energy and wind energy.
- To identify and evaluate the key challenges and limitations associated with the implementation of renewable energy sources and electric machinery in both underground and surface mining operations, and to propose strategies for overcoming these obstacles in order to ensure the sustainability and resilience of mining activities.
- To analyze the economic costs and long-term benefits of introducing solar energy and wind energy, and the potential savings and return on investment.
- To assess the environmental benefits, with an emphasis on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the overall carbon footprint.
Literature Review
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Methodological Framework
- Technical analysis: Sizing of solar power systems based on local climatic data (e.g., average sunshine hours, seasonal variations in solar irradiance), as well as an assessment of wind energy potential.
- Economic evaluation: Calculation of the leveled cost of energy (LCOE), annual savings, return on investment (ROI), and Net Present Value (NPV) for different development scenarios.
- Environmental analysis: Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions using prescribed emission factors (e.g., 84.7 kg/GJ CO2-eq), and calculation of the mine’s carbon footprint before and after implementation of the proposed measures.
- 1.
- Improved worker health and safety;
- 2.
- Energy efficiency;
- 3.
- Lower operating costs;
- 4.
- Sustainability and environmental compliance;
- 5.
- Increased productivity;
- 6.
- Compatibility with renewable energy integration.
- 1.
- High initial capital investment;
- 2.
- Battery limitations and charging time;
- 3.
- Power supply challenges;
- 4.
- Performance constraints;
- 5.
- Infrastructure and spatial requirements;
- 6.
- Safety risks;
- 7.
- Need for skilled workforce.
2.2. Case Study: “Studena Vrila” Bauxite Mine
2.3. Data and Assumptions
- Summer: Average daily energy production per installed kilowatt (kW) of solar capacity reaches up to 7.27 kWh;
- Spring: Approximately 5.25 kWh per kW per day;
- Autumn: Around 3.41 kWh per kW per day;
- Winter: About 1.84 kWh per kW per day.
3. Results
3.1. Model One Integration of Renewable Energy Based on the Current Mine Status
- Pel—Total annual electricity cost savings (EUR);
- Qann—Annual electricity production from the solar farm (kWh);
- Cel—Market price of electricity (EUR/kWh).
- Zm—Total monthly savings, EUR;
- Zann—Total annual savings, EUR;
- Qdis—Monthly amount of saved diesel fuel, 0,6 t/m ~ 708 L/m;
- Cdis—Average market price of diesel fuel, 1.3 EUR/L.
- I—Total investment, EUR
- Ilhd—Price of LHD loader, EUR 300,000;
- Isf—Cost of the solar farm, EUR 383,900.
- P—Total annual savings, EUR;
- Pel—Total annual savings on electric energy, EUR 62,820;
- Zann—Total annual savings on diesel fuel, EUR 11,040;
- V—Expected payback period;
- I—Total investment, EUR 683,900;
- P—Total annual savings, EUR 73,860.
- NPV—Net Present Value;
- P—Expected cash inflow (cash flow) in period t;
- I—Total investment;
- t—Time of the observed period;
- p—Discount rate;
3.2. Model Two: Reduction in Diesel Consumption and Expansion of Renewable Energy Capacity
3.3. Model Two: Full (100%) Integration of Renewable Energy in the Mine
- Pn—Required capacity of solar farm;
- Qn—Required annual electricity consumption, 726,887.2 kWh;
- Nann—Annual number of sunshine hours, 1500 h.
3.4. Summary Results of the Techno-Economic Analysis of Renewable Energy Source Integration in the Mine and Sensitivity Anallysis
3.5. Environmental Impact Achieved by Integrating Renewable Energy Sources in the Mine
- Esp—Greenhouse gas emissions, kg CO2eq;
- Pdg—Energy content of diesel, GJ;
- FE—Emission factor, 84,728,723 kg/GJ CO2eq [21].
- Qdis—Total mass of diesel fuel, kg;
- qdis—Specific energy content of diesel, 0.0431 GJ/kg.
4. Discussion
- Increased investment in battery–electric machinery and the solar/wind farm leads to greater overall annual savings.
- The integration of wind energy and battery storage systems proved essential for ensuring reliable energy supply, especially during periods of low solar irradiance. Wind turbines helped compensate for seasonal variability in solar output, while battery storage systems enabled effective load balancing and reduced curtailment of renewable electricity. While this requires a higher initial investment, it reduces long-term dependence on the external grid and maximizes savings, resulting in a more favorable payback period, as seen in Model 3 (Figure 3).
- Balancing investments: Although higher investment in battery–electric machines brings greater diesel savings due to the elimination of fuel consumption, it is critical to assess whether such an investment is justified considering the extended payback period. Despite the highest investment, Model 3 has a longer payback period than Model 1 but is improved compared to non-optimized Model 2 (Figure 3).
- Complete integration of renewable energy sources enables energy independence and resilience to external fuel price fluctuations, especially diesel.
- Financial viability: All scenarios yield a positive NPV, confirming long-term investment profitability. However, Model 3, despite the highest savings, has the longest payback period (12.34 years), indicating a need for financial incentives and subsidies.
- Technical challenges: Although conditions for solar and wind energy are favorable, seasonal variations and the need for energy storage remain significant challenges. Increasing the share of electricity consumption requires additional infrastructure (charging stations, battery storage).
- Operational challenges: Integration of electric machinery requires availability of skilled labor and staff training. Moreover, safety requirements and logistics in underground conditions need to be thoroughly addressed.
5. Conclusions
- Introduce an Energy Management System (EMS) model with priorities for the use of renewable energy sources and storage.
- Conduct a broader sensitivity analysis on changes in energy prices.
- Consider the application of hydrogen systems or advanced battery solutions.
- Expand the study to multiple mines located in remote areas to generalize the methodology.
- Such an extension of the discussion provides a broader view of benefits, risks, and future development directions in the context of the mining industry’s energy transition.
Author Contributions
Funding
Data Availability Statement
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
- Aydogdu, K.; Duzgun, S.; Yaylaci, E.D.; Aranoglu, F. A Systems Engineering Approach to Decarbonizing Mining: Analyzing Electrification and CO2 Emission Reduction Scenarios for Copper Mining Haulage Systems. Sustainability 2024, 16, 6232. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Owen, W. Electrifying Mining Operations; Global Mining Review: Farnham, UK, 2022; Available online: https://www.globalminingreview.com/special-reports/01102022/electrifying-mining-operations/ (accessed on 7 June 2025).
- Gleeson, D. Fortescue Kicks Off Battery-Electric Truck Testing in the Pilbara; International Mining: Sevenoaks, UK, 2023; Available online: https://im-mining.com/2023/08/01/fortescue-kicks-off-battery-electric-truck-testing-in-the-pilbara/ (accessed on 26 July 2025).
- Webb, S. Fortescue, Liebherr Secure Orders for 100 Electric Mining Trucks, Forrest Says; Reuters: London, UK, 2024; Available online: https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/fortescue-liebherr-secure-orders-100-electric-mining-trucks-forrest-says-2024-09-27/ (accessed on 26 July 2025).
- Publicnow. KGHM Polska Mied? S A: With Permits to Build Its Own Photovoltaic Installations; MarketScreener: Annecy, France, 2023; Available online: https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/KGHM-POLSKA-MIEDZ-1413331/news/KGHM-Polska-Mied-S-A-with-permits-to-build-its-own-photovoltaic-installations-45617704/ (accessed on 26 July 2025).
- Rio Tinto Approves New Solar Plant to Power Kennecott. Available online: https://www.riotinto.com/en/news/releases/2024/rio-tinto-approves-new-solar-plant-to-power-kennecott (accessed on 26 July 2025).
- Kujundžić, T.; Korman, T.; Purkić, R.; Perić, M. Mogućnost primjene obnovljivih izvora energije pri eksploataciji arhitektonsko-građevnog kamena. Klesarstvo Graditelj. 2025, 32, 100–114. [Google Scholar]
- Igogo, T.; Awuah-Offei, K.; Newman, A.; Lowder, T.; Engel-Cox, J. Integrating Renewable Energy into Mining Operations: Opportunities, Challenges, and Enabling Approaches. Appl. Energy 2021, 300, 117375. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Alova, G. Integrating Renewables in Mining: Review of Business Models and Policy Implications. OECD Dev. Policy Pap. 2018, 7. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Bołoz, Ł. Global Trends in the Development of Battery-Powered Underground Mining Machines. Multidiscip. Asp. Prod. Eng. 2021, 4, 178–189. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Kozłowski, A.; Bołoz, Ł. Design and Research on Power Systems and Algorithms for Controlling Electric Underground Mining Machines Powered by Batteries. Energies 2021, 14, 4060. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Fugiel, A.; Burchart-Korol, D.; Czaplicka-Kolarz, K.; Smoliński, A. Environmental Impact and Damage Categories Caused by Air Pollution Emissions from Mining and Quarrying Sectors of European Countries. J. Clean. Prod. 2017, 143, 159–168. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Johansson, B.; Johansson, J. ‘The New Attractive Mine’: 36 Research Areas for Attractive Workplaces in Future Deep Metal Mining. Int. J. Min. Miner. Eng. 2014, 5, 350. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Lajunen, A.; Suomela, J. Evaluation of Energy Storage System Requirements for Hybrid Mining Loader. IEEE Trans. Veh. Technol. 2012, 61, 3387–3393. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- OECD. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. In OECD Environmental Performance Reviews: Chile 2016; OECD Environmental Performance Reviews; OECD: Paris, France, 2016. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Radovac, D. Modeliranje Ležišta Boksita i Podzemnih Prostorija na Boksitonosnom Području Studena Vrila s Prijedlogom Razvoja Rudarskih Radova. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia, 2024. [Google Scholar]
- Jäderblom, N. From Diesel to Battery Power in Underground Mines. Master’s Thesis, Luleå University of Technology, Luleå, Sweden, 2017. [Google Scholar]
- World Bank Group. The Growing Role of Minerals and Metals for a Low Carbon Future; World Bank: Washington, DC, USA, 2017. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Ovalle, A. Analysis of the Discount Rate for Mining Projects. In MassMin 2020: Proceedings of the Eighth International Conference & Exhibition on Mass Mining; University of Chile: Santiago, Chile, 2020; pp. 1048–1064. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Buła, R.; Foltyn-Zarychta, M. Declining Discount Rates for Energy Policy Investments in CEE EU Member Countries. Energies 2022, 16, 321. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
- Mingo; Antić; Galić, I. Vodič o Metodologiji Izračuna Faktora Emisija i Uklanjanja Stakleničkih Plinova. 2022. Available online: https://mingo.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/KLIMA/Vodic%20o%20metodologiji.pdf (accessed on 26 July 2025).
Type of Machine and Equipment | Power (kW) | Purpose-Phase of Work | Energy |
---|---|---|---|
LHD—“GHH LF 4.5” | 102 | Load, haul, and dump | Diesel |
LHD—“KLCD-2” | 230 | Load, haul, and dump | Diesel |
LHD—“XYWJY—1KA KCG080002” | 135 | Load, haul, and dump | Diesel |
LHD—“R1700 XE” | 220 | Load, haul, and dump | Battery–electric |
LHD “CAVO-310” | 18.5 | Load, haul, and dump | Compressed air |
Dump truck “kamah uk-12” | - | Transporting material | Diesel |
Dump truck “ghh trd mk-a15” | - | Transporting material | Diesel |
Conveyor belts | - | Transporting material | Electric |
R1700 XE | Specifications |
---|---|
Bucket capacity | 5.7–7.5 m3 |
Power output | 220 kW |
Torque | 3200 N·m/660 N·m |
Cooling type | Liquid |
Battery type | Li-ion |
Battery capacity | 213 kWh |
Fast charging speed (0–100%) | 20 to 30 min |
Data on Solar Farm (sf) | Specifications |
---|---|
Installed capacity of the solar farm (Psf), kW | 349 |
Unit cost (Cj), EUR /kW | 1100 |
Total investment cost in the solar farm (Isf), EUR | 383,900 |
Annual electricity production (Qann), kWh | 523,500 |
Annual electricity consumption (Qpot), kWh | 559,144 |
Electricity price (Cel), EUR/kWh | 0.12 |
Data on Solar and Wind Farm (sf) | Calculation | Value |
---|---|---|
Installed capacity of solar farm (Psf), kW | =349 kW | 349 |
Unit cost (Cj), EUR/kW | =EUR1100/1 kW | 1100 |
Total investment in solar farm (Isf), EUR | =349 kW × EUR1100/kW | 383,900 |
Installed capacity of wind farm (Pwf), kW | =70 kW | 70 |
Unit cost (Cj), EUR/kW | =EUR 1400/1 kW | 1400 |
Total investment in wind farm (Iwf), EUR | =70 kW × EUR 1400/kW | 98,000 |
Annual production (Qann) (20% increase), kWh | =523,500 kWh × 1.20 | 628,200 |
Annual electricity consumption (30% increase), kWh | =559,144 kWh × 1.30 | 726,887.2 |
Electricity price (Cel), EUR/kWh | =EUR 0.12/1 kWh | 0.12 |
Battery–electric machinery data (bes) | ||
Initial investment (100% increase), EUR | =EUR 300,000 × 2 | 600,000 |
Monthly diesel savings (Qdis-m), L/m | =1.7 t × 1180 L/t | 2006 |
Diesel price (Cdis), EUR/L | =EUR 1.3/1 L | 1.3 |
Economic Indicator | Calculation | Value |
---|---|---|
Electricity savings (Pel), EUR Qann = 628,200 kWh; Cel = × EUR 0.12/kWh | =628,200 kWh × EUR 0.12/kWh | 75,384 |
Diesel savings (Zann), EUR Zm = 2006 L/m; Cdis = EUR 1.3/L; Zm = EUR 2607.8/m | =EUR 2607.8/m × 12 m | 31,293.6 |
Total investment (I), EUR ILHD = EUR 600,000; Isf = EUR 383,900; Iwf = EUR 98,000 | =EUR 600,000 + EUR 383,900 + EUR 98,000 | 1,081,900 |
Total annual savings (P), EUR Pel = EUR 75,384; Zann = EUR 31,293.6 | =EUR 75,384 + EUR 31,293.6 | EUR 106,677.6 |
Return on investment (V), years I = EUR 1,081,900; U = EUR 106,677.6/y | =EUR 1,081,900/EUR 106,677.6/y | 10.15 |
Economic Indicator | Calculation | Value |
---|---|---|
Total investment cost in the solar farm (Isf), EUR Pn = 349 kW; Cj = EUR 1100 /kW | =349 kW × EUR 1100/kW | 383,900 |
Total investment cost in the wind farm (Iwf), EUR Pn = 136 kW; Cj = EUR 1400/kW | =136 kW × EUR 1400/kW | 190,400 |
Total investment cost in the battery energy storage system (Ibess), EUR Pn = 150 kW; Cj = EUR 500/kW | =150 kW × EUR 500/kW | 75,000 |
Electricity savings (Pel = P), EUR Qann = 726,887.2 kWh; Cel = ×EUR 0.12/kWh | =726,887.2 kWh × EUR 0.12/kWh | 87,226.5 |
Diesel savings (Zann), EUR Zm = 4012 L/m; Cdis = EUR 1.3/L; Zm = EUR 5,215.6/m | =EUR 5215.6/m × 12 m | 62,587.2 |
Total investment (I), EUR ILHD = EUR 1,200,000; Isf = EUR 383,900; Iwf =EUR 1 90,400; Ibess = EUR 75,000 | =EUR 1,200,000 + EUR 383,900 + EUR 190,400 + EUR 75,000 | 1,849,300 |
Total annual savings (P), EUR Pel = EUR 87,226.5; Zann = EUR 62,587.2 | =EUR 87,226.5 + EUR 62,587.2 | EUR 149,813.7 |
Return on investment (V), years I = EUR 1,849,300; U = EUR 149,813.7/y | =EUR 1,849,300/EUR 149,813.7/y | 12.34 |
Indicator | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Solar farm power, kW | 349 | 349 | 349 |
Solar farm investment, EUR | 383,900 | 383,900 | 383,900 |
Wind farm power, kW | - | 70 | 136 |
Wind farm investment, EUR | - | 98,000 | 190,400 |
Battery energy storage system power, kW | - | - | 150 |
Battery energy storage system investment, EUR | - | - | 75,000 |
Production of electrical energy, kWh/year | 523,500 | 628,200 | 726,887 |
Electrical energy consumption, kWh/year | 559,144 | 726,887 | 726,887 |
Electrical energy price (Cel), EUR/kWh | 0.12 | 0.12 | 0.12 |
Electrical energy savings (Pel), EUR | 62,820 | 75,384 | 87,226 |
Investment in LHD (ILHD), EUR | 300,000 | 600,000 | 1,200,000 |
Diesel fuel savings (Qdis), L/m | 708 | 2006 | 4012 |
Diesel price (Cdis), EUR | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 |
Annual savings on diesel (Zann), EUR | 11,040 | 31,294 | 62,587 |
Total annual savings (P), EUR | 73,860 | 106,678 | 149,814 |
Total investment (I), EUR | 683,900 | 1,081,900 | 1,849,300 |
Return on investment (V), years | 9.26 | 10.15 | 12.34 |
Parameter | Base Case Value | Variation Range | Impact on NPV (€) | Impact on ROI (Years) | Comment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diesel price (EUR/L) | 1.3 | 1.0–1.8 | +58,000 to +129,000 | 13.1 to 10.2 | Higher diesel prices improve economic justification. |
Electricity price (EUR/kWh) | 0.12 | 0.08–0.16 | +31,000 to +74,000 | 13.0 to 10.7 | High grid prices favor on-site RES generation. |
Battery cost (EUR/kWh) | 500 | 400–700 | +20,000 to −18,000 | 11.8 to 12.9 | High battery costs reduce economic performance. |
Wind turbine capacity (kW) | 136 | 100–200 | +12,000 to +45,000 | 12.7 to 11.3 | Larger wind capacity yields higher energy offset. |
Discount rate (%) | 5 | 3–7 | +94,000 to −43,000 | 10.8 to 13.6 | Strong sensitivity to financing assumptions. |
RES output degradation/year (%) | 0.5 | 0.3–1.0 | −8000 to −31,000 | 12.4 to 13.3 | Performance loss over time affects long-term savings. |
Carbon Footprint Indicator | Model 1 | Model 2 | Model 3 |
---|---|---|---|
Total saving on diesel (Qdis), kg | 66,672 | 202,776 | 472,056 |
=Qm/1.18 kg/L × 12 m × V | |||
Energy content of diesel (Pdg), GJ | 2874 | 8740 | 20,346 |
=Qdis × 0.0431 GJ/kg | |||
Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, kg CO2eq | −243,473 | −740,499 | −1,723,858 |
= −Pdg × 84,728,723 kg/GJ CO2ekv | |||
Share of carbon footprint reduction through renewable energy integration, % | 14 | 43 | 100 |
Share of carbon footprint during mine operation, % | 86 | 57 | 0 |
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content. |
© 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Share and Cite
Kronja, J.; Galić, I. Integration of Renewable Energy Sources to Achieve Sustainability and Resilience of Mines in Remote Areas. Mining 2025, 5, 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5030051
Kronja J, Galić I. Integration of Renewable Energy Sources to Achieve Sustainability and Resilience of Mines in Remote Areas. Mining. 2025; 5(3):51. https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5030051
Chicago/Turabian StyleKronja, Josip, and Ivo Galić. 2025. "Integration of Renewable Energy Sources to Achieve Sustainability and Resilience of Mines in Remote Areas" Mining 5, no. 3: 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5030051
APA StyleKronja, J., & Galić, I. (2025). Integration of Renewable Energy Sources to Achieve Sustainability and Resilience of Mines in Remote Areas. Mining, 5(3), 51. https://doi.org/10.3390/mining5030051