<
https://thedriven.io/2024/08/21/just-like-a-normal-digger-but-quicker-bhp-switches-on-its-first-giant-electric-excavator/>
"Mining giant BHP has followed in the path of fellow iron ore major Fortescue
by deploying its first electric excavator, dumping a diesel engine and
replacing it with an electric motor fed by a trailing cable.
The R 9400 excavator is made by Liebherr and is operating at the Yandi mine in
the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and will be key to helping the iron
ore miners reduce emissions from the billions of litres of diesel that are
burned each year in the mining province.
Fortescue started trialling an electric excavator in December last year, and
after finding that it lowered costs and boosted productivity, and cut
emissions, it plans to replace all its diesel excavators, saving a total of 95
million tonnes a year.
Fortescue, however, is in a hurry. It has a target of “real zero” emissions by
2030, which means no burning of fossil fuels, while BHP’s target is for a 30
per cent reduction by 2030. BHP’s longer term target is “net zero” by 2050.
“Electrification of our fleet is our preferred solution to displace greenhouse
gas emissions from using diesel – from trucks to trains to excavators – we’re
working hard to electrify our equipment,” said Tim Day, the head of iron ore in
Western Australia for BHP.
One of its operators at the mine says the new electric excavator is “just like
a normal digger, but quicker.”
However, to make the switch to electric excavators, and electric haul trucks
that BHP and fellow miners Rio Tinto are also trialling, the companies will
need to build renewable energy capacity to keep emissions low."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
