Converting Abandoned Mines into green energy fields by jylye

file:///E:/Projects/Abandon%20Mines/Package/a2b1d31b613fd693d5ffb3fa3e728faf0728316e%20(1).webp

CONVERTING ABANDONED MINES INTO GREEN ENERGY FIELDS

A Renewable Energy Future

Following the global transition from carbon positive extraction and exports, towards decarbonization and green economy, this proposal envisions converting abandoned mining sites into locations for production of green energy. With application of big data and Ai, these complex sites are highly compatible for conversion from brownfields into greenfields.

A High Concetration of Abandoned Mines Around the World CANADA- 10,000

USA - 500,000

1500 Coal Mines 2000 Abandoned

JAPAN - 5,500 CHINA -

12,000 Coalmines 4,700 in Shanxi Province alone

AUS - 60,000 SOUTH AFRICA - 6,000

The sheer amount of these complex sites combined with the global shift towards green energy presents a growing opportunity to establish Australia as a superpower in green energy production.

Australia has over 60 000 abandoned mining sites. These obsolete locales carry monumental machinic imprints, registering the societal and ecological impact of human systems on the Earth. Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-02-15/australia-institute-report-raises-concerns-on-mine-rehab/8270558

Estimated number of abandoned mines

Examples of Abandoned Mines Australia

ARGYLE DIAMOND MINE - EAST KIMBERLEY

KALGOORLIE SUPER PIT

LIDELL COAL MINE, HUNTER VALLEY NSW

RAVENSWOOD GOLD MINE , QLD

HAZELWOOD COAL MINE, VIC

REGION, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Closure: 2035

Closure: 2023

Closure 2018 of Mt Wright and Nolans east

The Latrobe Valley is the centre of Victoria’s energy

Closure: 2020.

Gold Mine

Lidell coal operations is an established open cut

Gold Mine

industry. Responsible for over 80% of the electrical

The Fourth largest diamond producer in the world

Employes 1,100

mine located in Ravensworth.

220 meter deep pit

power supplied to the state.

90% of the world’s pink and red diamonds.

Until 2016 the Super pit was Australia’s lagest open

The Newcastle area is the worlds largers coal

From 2006 to 2013, part of the deep pit was re-

Hazelwood emitted 14% of Victoria’s annual green-

50 hectares coverage

cut gold mine.

export porter, exporting approximetly 160 million

stored by water storage.

house gas emissions and 3% of Australia’s green-

600 meter maximum height difference.

tones per year to markets accross Asia.

house gas emissions.

Ultra high solar exposure year round.

Undergoing a seventeen-year mine rehabilitation

Large undergound facilities for hydrogen bateries

guarantee with the operators of the Yallourn and

storage.

Loy Yang coal mines in the Latrobe Valley.

Owned by Rio Tinto

The Benefits of Abandoned Mines Why use these complex sites?

1. Industrial scale solar energy proj-

2. Abandoned mines offer thousands

3. These lands have existing electric

4. Abandoned mines may have lower 5. Many abandoned mines are in

6. Abandoned mines have signif-

7. Many sites such as industrial,

ects require access to large, open

of acres of land, thare are often sit-

transmission lines and capacity and

overall transaction costs than tradi-

areas where traditional redevelop-

icant potential for hydro energy

manufacturing, and mining sites

sites, and the size of many aban-

uated in areas where there is high

other critical infrastructure, such as

tional greenfield projects. This can

ment may not be an option due to

generation through large mining

were once operations that provid-

roads which can be utilised for new

help reduce the stress on greenﬁeld

its remote locations, or may simply

pits left from previous mining activi-

ed jobs for the local communities.

projects. Avoiding new infrastruc-

sites for construction of new energy

be saddled with environmental con-

tes. These pits can acts as water res-

However, once these facilities cease

ture capital and zoning costs is

facilities.

ditions that are not well suited for

ervoirs for hydro projects minimizing

operations, these same communities

traditional redevelopment such as

the construction time and cost.

are left with fewer jobs. The develop-

doned mines means that large solar potential for wind and solar generarrays can be accommodated.

ation.

often signiﬁcant.

residential or commercial.

ment, operation and maintenance of renewable energy facilities on these same sites reintroduces job opportunities and economic growth.

There are several reasons why abandoned mines make exceptional locations for clean and renewable energy development. 5

Green Energy Generation

VORTEX WIND TURBINES

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC

SOLAR ON COMPLEX TERRAINS

LITHIUM-ION BATTERY FARM

HYDROGEN FUEL CELLS

Technology currently in development.

A lowcost yet high yield panel. Solar photovaltic

Availability of abandoned mining sites and quar-

Large scale battery system technology to enable

Hydrogent fuel cells convert chemical energy into

Up to 18m bladeless vertical turbines that can be

system employes solar modules that can be easily

ries, and other barren landscapes scarred by the

renewable energy storage.

electrical energy using the movement of charged

distributed in high density (wind forests).

prefabricated in off site factories and transported

past industrial activity necessitates adaptation of

Harnessing wind energy through physics of air

to remote location for assembly on site.

solar panel distribution to variable topography of

turbulence.

Image: French solar ‘farm’, Les Mées

such sites. Current available software options for

gen to produce water. The hydrogen fuel itself can

planning of solar farms on such sites are limited in

be produced with ever-increasing cost-effective-

their ability to respond to various conditions and

ness through electrolysis, by splitting water into

data on those sites.

its constituent hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This

Image: Solar Farm Zhangjiakou, China

generates two useful gases and, when powered

Image: Vortex Turbines, Protect Rural England

hydrogen ions across an electrolyte membranes to Image: Tesla Battery Farm South Australia

generate current. There they recombine with oxy-

by green energy, makes hydrogen production a carbon-neutral act.

Transitioning to Green Energy: Kidstone Renewable Energy Hub Example

Kidston Renewable Energy Hub will provide around 783 gigawatt hours of renewable energy per year, enough to power around 140,000 average Australian homes. KIDSTONE RENEWABLE ENERGY HUB

SITE INFASTRACTURE

PHASE ONE

PHASE TWO

PHASE THREE

The Kidston Clean Energy Hub, comprises of three

This site was selected in order to take advantage

KS1 is located on the tailings storage facility of

The Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project will

KS3 will develop a 150-MW wind farm which is 10

projects which are located in Kidston, Far-North

of the existing infrastructure left behind from the

the closed Kidston Gold Mine. The storage facil-

utilise the two existing mining pits (Wises and

kilometres away from the solar and pumped hydro

Queensland (270km NW of Townsville).

closed Kidston Gold Mine, in addition to the ideal

ities provide consistent, flat surfaces, ideal for

Eldridge) as the upper and lower reservoirs for the

storage facility,

The Kidston renewable project utilises much of the

natural climatic conditions found in this region

large-scale solar projects given it minimises land

project to minimise construction time and cost.

existing infrastructure left behind by the previous

(situated in the highest solar radiation zone in the

clearing and allows for quick installation of piling

mining operations.

country). Old accommodation camps can house

structures. KS1 is predicted to generate 145GWh of

up to 300 workers. The old gold pits themselves

renewable electricity per year, increasing the total

will become the reservoirs at the centre of a

renewable energy generation in Queensland by

pumped hydro energy storage system.

5.5%.

Australia: A renewable energy superpower

Australia can become the world’s number one generator and exporter of renewable energy and related product by 2030. Australia coud be a renewable energy superpower

Australia can aim for:

700 %

100 %

200 %

300+ %

Our capacity to generate wind, solar, wave and tide power is huge: Beyond Zero Emissions has estimated that Australia’s “economically demonstrated solar and wind energy resources are … over 5000 exajoules.” That’s 75 per cent greater than Australia’s coal, gas, oil and uranium resources combined.

There are huge opportunities to export education, training and the potential to create vast new onshore manufacturing industries and tens of thousands of jobs.

100% renewables: refers to the capacity needed to meet Australia’s current domestic electricity demand.

200% renewables: refers to the capacity needed to power Australia’s current transport, industry and building needs (away from gas, coal and oil).

300-700% renewables: refers to the capacity needed to achieve steps one and two , plus enough to:

renewables

- Create hydrogen fuels for export; - Export solar power via sea cables to Southeast Asia; - Manufacture new solar powered products.

Data from World Wide Fund for Nature Australia https://www.wwf.org.au/what-we-do/climate/renewables#gs.z7a4z9

A green energy wave

“Australia, with characteristic luck, is sitting on everything it needs to be the world leader, but only if it acts fast.” Andrew Forrest, Boyer Lecture, January 2021

Utilising Australia’s Resources

RENEWABLE ENERGY SCORECARD

Australia is famous for its endless sunshine, gener-

Tasmania is the overall leader, achieving 100% renewables status, legislating the largest renewables tar-

ous landmass, powerful winds, world-class exper-

get in the world and punching above its weight to grow a renewable hydrogen industry.

tise and strong alliances and trade relationships.

South Australia has been a leader in renewable energy for many years and is starting to build the foun-

Combining these attributes to join the global shift

dations for renewable export industries. New South Wales has made significant policy progress in the

to a low carbon future should be a no-brainer. Australia is perfectly poised to take the lead as a

AUSTRALIAN RENEWABLE PROJECTS

renewable energy export powerhouse.

There are currently 98 projects that are in construction (or due to start construction soon) around Australia. This is based on projects that have reached financial close and are not yet commissioned. These wind, solar and bioenergy projects will deliver over $18.6 billion in capital costs, 10,395 MW of new re-

past two years, pioneering REZs and legislating a huge 12 GW renewable program by 2030. The Australian Government has a breadth of programs that support thegrowth of renewable energy. These include the Modern Manufacturing Initiative; ARENA and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC); the Hydrogen Strategy and more.

newable energy capacity and create 13,502 direct jobs.

Data from Clean Energy Council Australia https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/resources/project-tracker 9

Bottling Australian Energy Current Renewable energy developments:

AUSTRALIA–ASEAN POWER LINK - SUNCABLE

BATTERY STORAGE PROJECTS

YARA PILBARA AMANOIA PLANT HYDROGEN

AUSTRALIA, GERMANY WORKING TOGETHER

HYRDOGEN EXPORT TO JAPAN AND ASIA

A proposed electricity infrastructure project that is

There are currently 21 battery projects that are in

Yara Pilbara’s ammonia plant, in north-west WA,

Australia and Germany have signed a new

AUS has its launched the world’s first hydrogen

planned to include the world’s largest solar plant,

construction (or due to start construction soon)

currently uses hydrogen from natural gas to

agreement for a joint feasibility study to

carrier, which will ship the fuel the 9000 kilometres

the world’s largest battery, and the world’s longest

around Australia. This is based on projects that

produce ammonia fertiliser for export. But the

investigate the supply chain between the two

from eastern Australia to Kobe, Japan. A gas-tur-

submarine power cable. A solar farm in Northern

have reached financial close and are not yet

company is planning to build a 10 MW renewable

countries on hydrogen produced from renewable

bine power plant to be fuelled entirely by hydro-

Territory, Australia, will produce 10 gigawatts of

commissioned. These battery storage projects will

hydrogen electrolyser to feed the plant instead.

energy.

gen has already been installed in the Japanese

electricity, most of which will be exported to Singa-

deliver over $971 million in capital costs, 1,366 MW

Thanks to a grant from ARENA, they’ve already

city and will provide heat and power to nearby

pore by a 4,500 km.

of new energy storage capacity with the ability to

done a feasibility study and now the WA

municipal buildings. The costs of both renewable

discharge 2,728 MWh.

Government is contributing $2 million towards the

generation and electrolysis are falling and there is

project.

proven demand for imported hydrogen, particularly in South Korea and Japan

Powering Australia’s needs

FIRE SHIELD PROJECT

POWER FOR REMOTE MINING SITES

REMOTE LOCAL COMMUNITIES

POWERING MINE AUTOMATION

DATA CENTERS

The Fire Shield project by Minderoo Foundation

An off grid power solution to powering mining

Many remote communities, particularly

The mining industry is increasingly automated.

Underground tunnel infastrucuture from mining

aims to use emerging technologies to rapidly find

activities for remote mining sites. This helps to

indigenous ones, rely on polluting and expen-

Remote renewable power generation can supply

activities provide suitable areas for data center

and extinguish bushfires. Green energy farms in a

reduce the use of diesel generators, bring down

sive diesel power generation. Off-grid distributed

power for automated mining processes,

storage facilities. This can be powered by renew-

network of distributed and remote locations would

electricity costs and minimise carbon footprints.

energy systems offer lower infrastructure costs,

Including large scale robotics, automated vehicles

able energy sources generated from near by solar

enable powering drones and aerial surveillance

reduced costs for local residents and increased

and equipment.

fields.

robots, autonomous fire-fighting vehicles and on-

energy security and reliability. It can enable emer-

the-ground remote sensors.

gence and support of local economies for those

https://www.minderoo.org/fire-and-flood-resil-

remote locations

ience/fire-shield/

Our Expertise

We bring cutting edge science and technology into design of large scale green infrastructures.

Ai AND MACHINE LEARNING

BIG DATA DRIVEN

CUTTING EDGE SOFTWARE

DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and

We employ an information driven approach to

We develop cutting edge bespoke software to

We bring 20 years of experience in application

machine learning is the future. We co-design with

deliver superpeforming results to maximise re-

design and program our projects. With years of

of computation and exponential technologies

Ai and ML to automate and synthesize our

newable energy production, and adapt to highly

experience with algorithms, big data and agent

to design of buildings, infrastructures and cities.

information driven design approach.

complex landscapes. High precision computa-

based modeling we can highly customise our

We offer a data driven design approach to these

tional physics simulations wind, solar and topog-

software to different project conditions.

proposed projects for new green energy infra-

raphy are synthesized alongside myriad of other

structure. Through our design excellence we can

relevant context data to drive our designs

achieve powerful aesthetics, and turn these once

systems.

neglected sites into new awe-inspiring destinations.

Big Data Optimising mine prospecting through big data

SOLAR DATA

WIND DATA

HYMAP

HYDIGGER

GEOLOGICAL DATA

Abandoned mining sites have signficant sun

Harnessing wind through physics simulation

Aerial based spectroscopy equipment analysing

HyDigger spectroscopy equipment/mining equip-

We design with different geological characteris-

exposure throughout the year. Incoporating solar

data allows for analysis and distribution of Vortex

mineral composition of site. This allows for a high

ment allows for a targeted extraction of materials

tics of these complex sites. Understanding geolog-

data allows for maximum energy generation with

turbine technology in areas with the most wind

technology reading of the site to extract big data

as necessary.

ical features aids in identifyinG high and low risk

the potential to provide energy for thousands of

energy generation potential.

information.

areas for designs.

Australian homes.

Ai & Machine Learning

We bring cutting edge Ai and machine learning technology into large scale green infrastructures.

Ai & DEEP LEARNING

DIGITAL TWINS

COMPUTATIONAL PHYSICS SIMULATION

PATTERN RECOGNITION

Through deep learning we can train Ai models

We use digital twin technology to work with

We deliver computational physics simulation

We develop cutting edge Ai technology that rec-

to learn and design with big data. Custom Ai

real-time processes and site conditions. Using dig-

engines that can deal with big data and are adapt-

ognises patterns in big data sets, beyond conven-

networks are able to adapt and learn from vasts

ital twins as a data resource we can improve de-

able to different project and site conditions.

tional computational tools. This pattern recogni-

amount of input data which are constantly

signs of new projects or understand the condition

changing and evolving.

of an existing asset, verify different built situations,

Image: Cloud Osaka _ competition proposal for

power can deliver results that designers

and run simulations and scenarios to provide a

Urban Operating System. 7 forms of renewable

previously couldnt compute or comprehend.

digital snapshot for future works.

energy production on site. Biothing/Alisa Andrasek

tion

with Buro Happold London and Hitachi Consulting Japan

Proposal Concept and Phasing Phase 1: Industry Partnerships Forming strategic alliances with key stakeholders to develop green energy projects. As architects and innovators with 20 years of experience in technology, design and computation, we bring a pivotal service of bridging different sectors of technology and mining through our expertise of computational design, architecture and large scale infastructure projects.

Target Industries

Technology Industry Entrepreneurs Mining Sector Government Bodies

Phase 2: Green Field Pilot Projects Attracting resources from different sectors, this stage will develop a pilot project for an abandoned mining site. Utilizing our design and computational expertise we would drive the project development of a green energy field that harnesses renewable energy from solar and wind for conversion into green hydrogen

Sites and Technology

Phase 3: Scalability, Distribution and Development Identifying further complex sites for potential rehabilitation and conversion to green energy fields. As well as further development of custom software that addresses site specific problems.

Abandonend Mines Complex Geographical Sites

Developing complex sites across Australia and beyond. Scalability and benefit

Generating exciting future oriented projects

Powerful new aesthetics

Green Energy Companies Architecture Innovators Investors

Green Energy Technology Computational Design Artificial Intelligence Mining Expertise Big Data Simulation

Delivering renewable energy on a mass scale through new forms of mine rehabilitation that creates sustainable future economic activities.

Sustainable economic job growth 15

Clean energy design strategies are in resonance with the country’s deep past, through the ecological nature of Aboriginal culture. Stunning natural landscapes scared by the monumental machinic imprints, and altered by high resolution architectures with previously unseen aesthetics, can emerge as new awe-inspiring destinations. 24

ABOUT ALISA ANDRASEK Designer and innovator, Alisa Andrasek is working on the convergence of design, computer science and exponential technologies. She is bringing AI and robotics to the forefront of architectural design and construction. The founder of Biothing, an award winning design laboratory; a partner of Bloom Games; and co-founder of AI Build, Andrasek is Professor of Design Innovation at RMIT, prior to which she directed an award winning program in advanced architectural design at UCL in London and Wonderlab research. Her work has been exhibited at the Centre Pompidou Paris, New Museum NY, Storefront NY, FRAC Collection Orleans, TB-A21 Vienna, Beijing and Sydney Biennial, among others.

CONTACT ALISA ANDRASEK alisaandrasek.com aa@alisaandrasek.com +61 401 397 283