Michael Lewis, Technical Director, Technology, Komatsu

Don’t wait for perfect. There are lots of incremental decarbonization technologies that can be taken up today that get you working toward your goals.

Based in Tuscon Arizona, Michael Lewis is Technical Director at Komatsu where he is responsible for aligning technology strategy and development priorities across mining excavators, trucks, drills, and front-end loaders.

Energy and Mines: What is needed in order for mining companies to meet their carbon targets and timelines?

Michael Lewis: There are really three keys to success when it comes to laying the groundwork for meeting carbon targets:

• Be flexible. The energy transition is going to take some time as OEMs design and release carbon-free equipment to replace the dozens of models that exist today. This will also offer an opportunity to reinvent some of the industry’s long-ingrained operational practices. For instance, the lowest ecological impact option may be moving toward an autonomous hydrogen- or battery-powered truck.

• Don’t wait for perfect. There are lots of incremental decarbonization technologies that can be taken up today that get you working toward your goals. For instance, Komatsu’s SR Hybrid Drive system, available on some wheel loader models, can result in a substantial carbon reduction per ton of material moved compared to a mechanical drive. Trolley assist on an existing diesel truck can yield emissions reductions and is a steppingstone for the battery trolley truck.

• Explore partnerships with OEMs. By partnering with an OEM, mining operations can benefit from the opportunity to collaborate on product planning, development, testing and deployment of the next generation of mining equipment. Komatsu’s Greenhouse Gas Alliance, whose members are initially focused on advancing a concept for a power-agnostic truck, is one example of such a partnership.

EandM: Which disruptive technologies are critical for meeting mine decarbonisation and ESG targets?

ML: When our customers ask us for solutions to help them work toward decarbonizing their mine operations, we point them first at examining their trucks, as haulage equipment generally produces a large share of carbon emissions at most mines. Three key technologies related to propulsion of haul trucks can help operations work toward achieving zero emission haulage:

• Batteries. While certain sectors of mining, like underground soft rock, began moving from diesel to battery power years ago, the application of batteries to power larger equipment has posed more of a challenge. Battery technology, however, is evolving quickly and new options are worth exploring.

• Hydrogen fuel cells. Komatsu has been working on research around hydrogen fuel cells for several years. To date, the technology has been applied more on a small scale, but the work to scale them to larger mining trucks is underway.

• Bio/synthetic fuels. Komatsu engines have been running with blends for years, the challenge is to achieve ever-higher blends all the way to 100%.

EandM: What are the main barriers for decarbonising energy and mobility for Australian mining companies?

ML: Australia is blessed with some of the highest solar radiation per square metre in the world, and solar energy is one of the lowest-cost ways of generating green energy for either direct use or to store in a carrier like hydrogen. However, the same climate that provides favorable solar energy provides challenges related to the availability of water to support hydrogen production, as well as high temperatures in the summer that can create additional engineering challenges. Fortunately, neither of these obstacles are insurmountable.

EandM: Who are you looking forward to connecting with at the Energy and Mines Australia Summit on September 6-7?

Having participated remotely in the 2021 summit, I am particularly looking forward to engaging in person with customers this year! This gathering will provide an unmatched opportunity for customers and other industry experts to engage in the collaboration and information sharing necessary to achieve our shared goal of advancing sustainability in mining.

Advancing Next Generation Zero-Emissions Mining Equipment will be presented by Michael Lewis at 9:00 AM on September 7th at the Energy and Mines Australia Summit, Sept 6-7.