Key to becoming more sustainable is shifting from fossil fuels to renewables. The most common green energy sources used in mining today are wind, solar, biodiesel, geothermal energy, hydropower, and hydrogen and fuel cell energy.
These will be particularly beneficial to the mining industry, where operations are conducted in remote locations far removed from the electricity grid. Here, renewables will offset the cost of the infrastructure needed to connect to the grid.
Renewable energy is also key to metals and mining because of the amount of energy use this industry requires. Every stage of mining is energy-intensive, from drilling to extraction to processing. Without green energy, this high energy consumption will continue to raise CO2 emissions and compromise not only the future of mining, but the future of our world.
Key fact: Mining is responsible for 4-7% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
Benefits
Powers remote mining operations
Future-proofs mining operations
Reduces emissions
