Renewable Energy in the Mining Industry

The international mining industry is a complex mix of diverse companies using several basic approaches of extracting and processing natural resources to supply both the energy and raw material needs of the modern world. These are critical times for the mining industry, with ever-increasing pressure from governments, customers, and other stakeholders to operate in a sustainable manner. The rising demand for mineral resources, driven by emerging markets, highlights the fact that maintaining the levels of needed supply will be a significant challenge in the future and energy will become increasingly more important for the bottom line, shareholder value, and license to operate.

Many of the key industry players in the mining arena have developed energy saving strategies and are investing directly into renewable energy infrastructure. For the most part, this is an outgrowth of the industry-wide realization that emerging technologies and strategies exist to better manage energy consumption, costs, supply, and risks from international and national regulations. In addition, several companies have already included revenue streams from carbon credits and carbon trading as a vehicle to augment revenue streams, while, at the same time, addressing climate change regulations and/or taxes.

This Pike Research report provides a detailed examination of energy consumption dynamics in the global mining industry, along with an analysis of the market opportunity for greater utilization of renewable energy. The study assesses the market drivers and policy issues that are influencing mining companies’ increasing interest in renewable energy, along with a review of the technology issues associated with each option. The strategies of key industry players are profiled in depth and market forecasts through 2020 are provided for renewable energy investment in the sector.

Key Questions Addressed:

-What is driving the adoption of renewable energy in the mining industry?

-What are the strengths and weaknesses of solar, wind, hydro, and fuel cells as energy sources for mining operations?

-What are the strategies of the top mining companies with regard to renewable energy?

-What is the role of energy storage in the adoption of renewable energy in the mining industry?

-How much is the mining industry likely to invest in renewable energy in the coming years, and how will this vary by world region?

Who needs this report?

-Mining companies

-Renewable energy technology companies

-Project developers and integrators

-Non-profit organizations

-Government agencies

-Investor community

Table of Contents

1. Executive Summary

1.1 Overview of the Mining Industry

1.2 Energy Costs and Reliability of Renewable Energy Technologies

1.3 Mining Industry Acceptance of Renewable Energy

1.4 Total Combined Renewable Energy World Markets for the Mining Industry

2. Market Issues

2.1 Background

2.2 Overview of Energy Consumption in the Mining Industry

2.2.1 Mining Methodology: Surface and Underground Mining

2.2.2 Materials Mined and General Recovery Ratios

2.2.3 Economic Vitality of the International Mining Industry and Future Investments

2.2.4 Mining Revenues and Production Levels

2.2.5 Consistent Strength of Traditional Mining Commodities and Major Companies

2.3 Energy Consumption Constraints

2.3.1 Fossil Fuel Limitations: Energy Reliability and Cost Implications

2.3.2 Energy Security and Reliability

2.4 Market Drivers

2.4.1 Cost of Fuel and Policy Action

2.4.2 Variability in Cost of Electricity throughout the World

2.4.3 Costs for Renewable Energy Sources and Share of the World’s Primary Energy Supply

2.4.4 Mining Company Returns

2.4.5 International Greenhouse Gas Requirements and Mandates

2.4.6 Corporate Responsibility in the Mining Industry

3. Technology Issues

3.1 Costs and Reliability of Renewable Energy Technologies

3.2 Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Options Available for Mining Operations

3.3 Photovoltaic Systems

3.3.1 Basic Principles and PV Cell Types

3.3.1.1 Crystalline

3.3.1.2 Thin-Film

3.3.2 Strengths and Weaknesses

3.3.3 Costs

3.3.3.1 Module Costs

3.3.3.2 Economies of Scale

3.3.3.3 Installed Costs

3.3.3.4 Low-Cost Polysilicon

3.3.4 Efficiency

3.3.5 Reliability

3.3.6 Scalability

3.3.7 Availability

3.4 Grid-Tied versus Off-Grid Installations

3.5 Energy Storage – Batteries

3.6 Sodium Sulfur Batteries

3.7 Flow Batteries

3.7.1 Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries

3.7.2 Zinc Bromine Flow Batteries

3.8 Lithium Ion Batteries

3.8.1 Overview

3.8.2 Leading Chemistries

3.8.3 Summary of Developments

3.8.4 Efficiency and Capacity

3.9 Remote Microgrid Sector Technologies Overview

3.10 Wind and Solar Resources

3.11 Microgrid Component Cost Breakdown

3.12 Remote Microgrid Subsegments

3.12.1 Remote Mining Operations

3.12.1.1 Pros

3.12.1.2 Cons

3.13 Wind Technologies

3.13.1 Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal

3.13.2 Biomass

3.13.3 Geothermal

3.13.4 Hydrokinetic, Tidal, and Wave Energy

3.14 Mining Properties as Appropriate Sites for Renewable Energy Technologies

3.15 Technologies for Energy Savings through Conservation and Best Practices

3.16 Fuel Cell Technologies with Mining Applications

3.16.1 Stationary Fuel Cells

3.16.2 Fuel Cells for Mobile Applications

4. Key Industry Players

4.1 Overview

4.2 African Rainbow Metals

4.3 AngloAmerican

4.4 AngloGold Ashanti

4.5 Areva

4.6 Barrick Gold Corporation

4.7 BHP Billiton

4.8 Codelco

4.9 Freeport McMoran

4.10 Galaxy Resources

4.11 Goldcorp

4.12 Gold Fields

4.13 Lihir Gold Limited/ Newcrest Mining

4.14 JX Nippon Mining and Metals

4.15 Kinross Gold Corporation

4.16 Lonmin

4.17 Minerals and Metals Group

4.18 Mitsubishi Materials Group

4.19 Newmont Mining Corporation

4.20 Rio Tinto

4.21 Teck Resources Limited

4.22 Vale S.A.

4.23 Xstrata

5. Market Forecasts

5.1 Key Assumptions and Market Drivers

5.2 Total World Renewable Energy Market Forecast

5.3 Total Global Oil Production Forecast

5.4 Renewable Energy Market Forecasts for the Mining Industry

5.5 Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry in North America

5.6 Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry in Europe

5.7 Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry in Asia Pacific

5.8 Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry in Latin America

5.9 Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry in Africa

5.10 Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry in the Rest of World

5.11 Total Combined Renewable Energy World Markets for the Mining Industry

5.12 Industrial Remote Mine Systems

5.12.1 North America

5.12.2 Europe

5.12.3 Asia Pacific

5.12.4 Latin America

5.12.5 Rest of the World

6. Company Directory

7. Acronym and Abbreviation List

8. Table of Contents

9. Table of Charts and Figures

10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes

List of Charts and Figures

Total Combined Renewable Energy Investment for the Mining Industry by Scenario, World Markets: 2012-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, North America: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Europe: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Asia Pacific: 2012-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Latin America: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Africa: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Rest of World: 2010-2020

Major Energy Requirements and Sources in a Typical Mining Operation from Exploration to Finished Product, Closure, and Reclamation

Relative Proportions of Energy Consumption for Various Segments of the Mining Industry, Data from the United States

Average Distribution of Energy Sources in the U.S. Mining Industry

General Recovery Ratios for Coal, Metals, and Industrial Minerals

Mining Industry Commodity Price Trends: 2003-2010

Forecasts of Global Oil Production: 1990-2030

Effects of Stronger Policy Action on Climate Change Initiatives and Fuel Switching

Average Cost of Electricity per kWh in Select Mining Countries

Solar PV & Diesel Generation Cost Crossover Point and Shares of the World Primary Energy

Trend for Average Returns for Top Ten Mining Companies, Employees, and Governments

Renewable Energy Cost Trends in Levelized Cents/kWh: 1980-2020

Photovoltaic Cells

Advanced Lead-Acid Battery Cycle Life Comparison to Other Advanced Batteries

Schematic of Sodium Sulfur Battery Technology

Schematic of Vanadium Redox Battery Technology

Schematic of Zinc Bromine Flow Battery Technology

Low, Medium, and High Wind Penetration Microgrid Cost Factors in Alaska

Daily Solar Radiation and Clearness Levels for Tropical Remote Microgrid Sites

Monthly Wind Speed Estimates for Tropical Remote Microgrid Sites

Cost Breakdown for Alaska Wind-Diesel Remote Microgrids

Relative Energy Intensity of the Mining Industry Compared to other Major Industries

Energy Consumption by Different Major Processes and Energy Saving Opportunities in the U.S. Mining Industry

Best Practice Energy Savings and Potential Savings from Continued Research and Development as Compared to Current Energy Consumption in the U.S. Mining Industry

The First Pilot Hydrogen Fuel Cell Mining Locomotive

Power Generation Forecasts by Policy Scenario, World Markets: 2005-2030

Costs of Energy in Cents per kWh, System Price Range and Market Penetration: 1990-2020

Forecast of Global Oil Production to 2030; OPEC to Non-OPEC Production Ratios

List of Tables

Total Combined Renewable Energy for the Mining Industry by Scenario, World Markets: 2012-2020

Materials Produced in Surface and Underground Mines in the United States for Coal, Metal, and Mineral Mining Operations

Top 40 International Mining Companies: 2010

PV Strengths and Weaknesses

Characteristics of Li-ion Battery Chemestries

Total Investment in Renewable Energy in the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, World Markets: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, North America: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Europe: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Asia Pacific: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Latin America: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Africa: 2010-2020

Total Combined Renewable Energy Markets for the Mining Industry by Investment Scenario, Rest of World: 2010-2020

To order this report:

Renewable energy Industry: Renewable Energy in the Mining Industry

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