Sustainable Safety
A safer workforce through sustainability WITH AUSTRALIA PLEDGING ITS COMMITMENT TO ZERO EMISSIONS BY 2050, THE NATION’S MINING SECTOR HAS MOVED QUICKLY TO FIND SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. AN ADDITIONAL BONUS OF THIS MOVE COULD INCLUDE THE IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE WORKFORCE.
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ast year, the Federal Government pledged to deliver net-zero emissions by 2050 while preserving Australian jobs and generating new opportunities for industries. A large part of this saw Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reductions Angus Taylor release Australia’s Long Term Emissions Reduction Plan. The technology-driven plan sets out a credible pathway to net zero by 2050, establishing Australia as a leader in lowemissions technologies. John Curtin Distinguished Professor Peter Newman from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute said the whole private sector was now moving quickly towards net-zero emissions. “So many of the younger engineers have been ready and waiting for this opportunity, so when they get asked how they are going to achieve these goals they already have the plans ready and are able to show that it will actually be costeffective,” he said. Newman believes that while there is great potential in hydrogen fuel cell technology, it will not be cost-effective and the industry is better off focusing on the benefits of battery technology. “All of the land transport is going to be battery-electric, so every train, truck and piece of mining equipment will be able to switch to battery-electric or running directly off the main power supply,” he said.
“Batteries are getting lighter and they now have a more extensive range. The battery chemistries are constantly being upgraded, which is giving them more power. “There are also so many different types of batteries for different purposes, including what is happening with lithium batteries, and these appear to be moving on a curve that is getting more and more efficient.” However, it is not just batteries that are included in sustainable energy. IGO recently announced it has continued its partnership with Zenith Energy to prove it is possible to use 100 per cent renewables to meet the demands of an operational mine site. Zenith Energy is the builder, owner and operator of the power station at IGO’s Nova nickel-copper-cobalt operation in the WA Goldfields region. It will expand its renewable generation to successfully operate ‘engine off’ for up to nine consecutive hours a day. The site is currently powered by a hybrid solar and diesel engine system and will expand its renewable energy capabilities through the addition of an extra 10MW of solar panels, and a 10MWh battery energy storage system. The storage system is a key component of achieving ‘engine off’, storing sufficient power to ensure supply and reliability of the system is not compromised. According to Zenith executive manager – growth Dominic Da Cruz,
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the project will boost renewable penetration on-site, to allow for 100 per cent renewable power generation during daylight hours, depending on weather conditions. Based on a power purchase agreement struck up with IGO in October 2018, Zenith built its facility to complement the previous Nova diesel power station, which was also designed by Zenith. Da Cruz said while Nova would continue to rely on diesel-generated power overnight and during inclement weather conditions, he was confident the industry was approaching a tipping point where 100 per cent renewable power generation will be possible 24 hours a day. “Zenith is already looking at what subsequent steps are needed to achieve this, including how we make wind assets relocatable to achieve higher levels of renewable penetration and the integration of long duration storage,” he said. “It’s an exciting time not just for Zenith as a company, but for the entire industry. We’re making real progress in the decarbonisation space and what that might look like for the sector moving forward.” However, in addition to the positive environmental and sustainability objectives of the Nova project, Da Cruz said there were also safety benefits for personnel working at the site.
