The rise of eco-consciousness promotes positive change in industrial processes. Government backing additionally influences sustainable development, helping us meet carbon-neutral goals. President Biden signed the Paris Agreement on his first day in office, signifying the United States’ carbon emission reduction commitment.
He also developed the Build Back Better policy, allocating $2 trillion to the clean energy industry. The funding will promote renewable energy technology advancements and employment. With increased efficiency and cost-effectiveness, we can develop a clean energy-driven electric grid.
Mining and Green Power
Mining has a longstanding association with environmental degradation. The process alters local ecosystems and indigenous lands and generates adverse human health effects. It also emits toxic pollution into streams and wetlands while increasing noise disruption, debris, and greenhouse gas emissions.
On the other hand, renewable energy focuses on ecological protection and climate change prevention. It reduces carbon dioxide emissions, limiting atmospheric degradation. A significant portion of society values eco-consciousness, promoting an energy production shift.
Nearly 73% of Generation Z and 68% of Millennial consumers are more likely to purchase sustainably. In America, citizens vote with their dollars. Companies must increase the sustainability of their practices to remain competitive in their field.
Fortunately, the mining and renewable energy industries are working together, decreasing environmental impacts. Mining is a power-intensive process, particularly in extraction and refinement practices. Not only that but mining also often requires oil companies to operate in the red until they accrue enough revenue to break even on drilling and completion expenses, and mining and drilling costs millions of dollars.
Clean energy provides a consistent and sustainable electricity source for equipment and processing facilities. Also, more energy-efficient energy will allow companies to spend less overall on their production costs, which will yield higher returns for miners and investors.
Sustainability and Clean Energy Storage
The mining industry may utilize renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, meet consumer needs, stabilize electricity prices, and improve low-emission power storage. Fossil fuels currently generate 80% of the global energy supply. Technological advancements decrease our reliance on high-emission power sources.
Mining companies can adopt green technology, increasing their sustainability through clean energy storage. Vistra recently revolutionized large-scale clean energy storage in their California facility, for example. The Moss Landing Energy Storage Facility converted an old fossil fuel-driven power plant into a giant battery facility.
A 300-megawatt lithium-ion battery resides inside one of the out-of-use smokestacks. It generates 1,200 megawatt-hours of renewable energy every four hours. California plans on using the system to meet peak energy demands and eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
Similarly, the sustainable tech giant, Tesla, launched their renewable energy storage system called Megapack. Large-scale solar systems feed clean power into the storage device, holding 3 megawatt-hours of electricity. The mining industry can use advanced storage technology, developing a clean power system near production sites.
Another energy storage and production device comes from concrete. Researchers at Energy Vault searched for a sustainable solution to changing electricity demands. Conventional energy grids produce electricity based on consumption predictions rather than real-time demands.
The Energy Vault concrete tower generates electricity using gravity. Hydropower also uses this method of energy production. Concrete blocks store more energy than water when falling, making them more efficient for production.
The Energy Vault device is 400 feet tall, holding concrete cylinders that weigh 35 metric tons each. A central rod has six crane arms, which hook to the cylinders and move them depending on energy demands. The system can produce and store 20 megawatt-hours of electricity, which is over six times the capacity of Tesla’s system.
Energy Efficiency in Mining
Adopting energy-efficient devices and equipment can help companies maintain their demands while technology advances. One way to go 100% clean energy is by using smart and low-power devices.
Mineral refinement occurs after the extraction process in mining. The facilities conducting the practice typically use natural gas-derived energy. Companies can install smart thermostats and power strips in their facilities, limiting unnecessary electricity pull.
Temperature control is essential in large-scale machinery facilities because of heat generation and device protection. Smart thermostats maintain an energy-efficient temperature using weather detection, motion sensing, and portable controls. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning use vast quantities of energy, and installing a smart device can significantly reduce a temperature control system’s power reliance.
Smart power strips additionally decrease a facility’s energy pull. Devices that remain plugged in 24/7 absorb electricity even when not in use. Autonomous extensions can track the energy demand and charging status of an appliance and alter the source’s output.
Mining companies can further increase the sustainability of their practices when using reverse osmosis for water purification. The industry uses vast quantities of water for extraction, relying on energy and resource exploitation. Reverse osmosis is a sustainable method of distillation and reuse, decreasing the ecological degradation associated with the mining industry.
Rainwater harvesting systems also decrease a company’s energy and water exploitation. Many of these systems rely on solar energy, increasing the sustainability and reducing the emissions associated with water pumping and purification. Sophisticated systems can generate potable water from storm output, limiting runoff and pollution.
The Future of Mining
We can improve the mining industry’s reputation by increasing the sustainability of its practices. Rather than fueling production with fossil fuel-derived energy, companies can utilize renewable power sources. As clean energy storage technology advances, we can expect a decrease in mining’s environmental impact.
