Mining firm IGO has added a high-density battery to its clear power arsenal as a part of a push to finish a dependence on diesel.
The Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre on Monday introduced the Australian-first sodium-sulfur (NAS) battery was up and working at IGO’s Nova nickel-copper-cobalt mine.
The centre’s CEO Shannon O’Rourke mentioned the set up at Fraser Range, Western Australia, would assist construct market confidence within the know-how and prepare the workforce.
The batteries are designed for power storage of six to eight hours or extra, and may shift massive portions of power into durations of low renewable era from wind or photo voltaic.
IGO’s appearing CEO Matt Dusci mentioned the corporate was placing a excessive precedence on analysis and growth for its transition and to speed up the mining business’s response to local weather change.
“The BASF NAS battery trial at our Nova operation is an important way to field test the suitability of this unique technology in a mining environment and how this will contribute to a clean energy future,” he mentioned.
Energy storage methods can cowl operations throughout electrical energy grid energy outages and long-duration batteries may help going renewable 24/7.
The battery’s efficiency can be assessed by the QUT-run National Battery Testing Centre and the University of WA.
The 250 kilowatt/1.45 megawatt hour demonstration unit provides to the present Nova Solar Farm and IGO’s separate funding in a 10MWh battery storage system.
IGO says Nova can run 100 per cent on renewable power for 9 straight hours over summer time and spring and is among the first WA mine websites to have this functionality.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
