Powering the shift to electric mines with resistors
Summary
According to a 2020 McKinsey report, the global mining industry is responsible for between four and seven per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions, so any technology that contributes to the sector’s decarbonisation is valuable. Its long success is down to the fact diesel engines can handle the extremely harsh conditions of underground mines, enabling access to once unreachable depths. With operations taking place hundreds, or even thousands, of metres below the ground, underground mining vehicles need to consistently perform well. A dynamic braking resistor is the simplest, most reliable and cost-effective solution to this problem as it dissipates the excess energy as heat, allowing the EV to stop when required. With increased pressure to decarbonise, mining EVs will play an essential role in bringing the industry into the 21st century, making operations efficient, reliable and safe.