Jess Maddren, Segment Director- Pacific Region, Mining, Schneider Electric

"To incentivize and progress to the next level of emissions reductions we need to significantly weight embedded carbon in the supply chain so that the companies really driving down their embedded carbon (which comes at a cost and therefore higher price) are competitive on something other than price."

Jess Maddren is an accomplished geologist, researcher, strategist and business woman with a passion for sustainability in all facets of her life. With Schneider Electric Jess is Segment Director for the Pacific Region.

Energy and Mines: How are climate targets for mining being embedded into mine processes and goals?

Jess Maddren: Optionality in proposed solutions – where consultants including SE are providing multiple options with varying prices and varying GHG reduction impacts. The customer is not always choosing the lowest price today if they can pay a little bit more and get a higher GHG reduction

Physically measuring straight from the control systems minutes to daily instead of estimation in a static spreadsheet, investment or project decisions can be made on real data to reduce energy, reduce emissions and increase optimisation

EandM: What different approaches are you seeing from mining companies as they try to navigate the challenges of planning for a decarbonised future?

JM: I am seeing some companies driven by some individuals flip “the way we have always done it mentality” into curiosity of why – why not have more crushers or mill when the sun shines or wind blows, where else can we store energy that isn’t batteries like crushing material, charging extra equipment, what is the NPV if we mine or process hard when we have excess renewables but scale right down at night shift – challenging the thought that 24/7 same rate of mining is the way to be, how would that then impact HR/IR and attracting diverse talent, how can we meet technology instead of waiting for it to get to us, instead of bigger machinery – what if we used smaller (trucks, excavators etc)

EandM: What are the key drivers for miners to consider a brand new way of designing mines around the availability of decarbonised power?

JM: The belief it can be done and should be done! It wasn’t so long ago people were still saying you couldn’t have a mine fully separate to the existing infrastructure and renewable and profitable. All the smaller projects to date show it can be done.

The generational shift and change that is happening is bringing in a new diverse leadership that challenges the way its been done, is passionate that we can do better.

This new generation knows mining leaves cultural and environmental impacts but is committed to asking how we can do it better in every step. Mining is supplying the raw materials for the energy shift and technology growth globally, it supports our ability to go green as a global community, but there is not point in going green if the source material leaves a big impact. All the materials being mined are being used in renewable energy and technology. Renewables can take a bigger footprint so considerations for placement and kw output per m2, how do we charge but keep optimised hauling routes, is large fixed power infrastructure outdated – as smaller mines come online due to the type of mineral/geology we cant depreciate over 40 years – how do we have smaller mobile capex to depreciate over 3 mines and move from site to site

EandM: What are the main technical and cultural impediments to this approach to mine design?

JM: As mentioned above the physical size of kw per m2 but hydrogen and some heat storage technology is pushing forward in trying to break through

• The fact that renewable plants are static and harder to move to the haul plan but liquid fuel can be moved

• Technology hasn’t reached commercialisation or scale for a number of these desired solutions yet the want to drive emissions down, particularly around mobile fleet is here today

• Culturally I think there is still some generational shift to go, where there is some experienced senior leaders that aren’t fully invested yet whether it be fear or low-risk profile – what we have done to date delivers tonnes, if we change the way we do things does it add risk to safety, production, deliverables, reputation. Start-up mentality is hard, we’ve all heard it – fail fast, pivot, listen, adapt. The new energy landscape in mining is that, it takes investment and the right team with the right support and space to be wrong sometimes

EandM: What new options and solutions are emerging to address the challenge of dispatching haul fleets for an all-electric mine?

JM: This is an interesting space. You have mobile fleet OEMs, power infrastructure engineering and OEMs, charging technology start ups that have never worked together and dont have an understanding of each others needs, wants and standards all competing to be in this space. It is going to be cabled or wireless charging, via what technologies, will there be hybrid electrical and hydrogen or choosing one over the other, what size of vehicles, are there integrative technologies that need to co-exist (there totally will be), how are we going to schedule charging and organise a full electric fleet

EandM: How can mines incentivize and progress to the next level of emissions reductions?

JM: Significantly weight embedded carbon in the supply chain so that the companies really driving down their embedded carbon (which comes at a cost and therefore higher price) are competitive on something other than price

• Engage early in large complex capital processing plant projects – the next step for energy and emissions reduction will come from interoperable and integrated power, process control and process engineering. Once we have got there then we can start doing some very cool ML/ AI for plant optimisations throughout the whole plant, not just small isolated optimisations that cause knock-on bottlenecking. Then we need to decide, are we optimising for profit, throughput, recovery, emissions, water etc. Lots to choose from

Jess Maddren will be participating in the panel Transitioning to Zero-Carbon Mining, September 7th, 9:00 AM, Energy and Mines Australia Summit 2022