The mining industry has just witnessed its first-ever electric truck trolley system take an underground mine test track at the Kristineberg in Sweden.
Pilot project
Swedish mining industry players Boliden, Epiroc, and ABB have teamed up to trial the revolutionary battery-electric truck trolley system on an 800-meter underground mine test track in Kristineberg.
The press release noted that the test track had a 13% incline, close to the 14.3% incline of most Australian underground mines.
This significant milestone is undoubtedly a boost to the mining industry’s path towards an all-electric future.
Proponents
ABB developed the system design and the rectifier substation for the test track.
Meanwhile, Epiroc’s battery-electric Minetruck MT42 SG and battery system powered the trolley.
ABB also provided the electric trolley solution’s DC converter, HES880 inverters, and AMXE motors to improve the power capacity.
It also has a trolley pantograph linked to an overhead catenary line to support long-haul ramps. The electric trolley line also offers extra aid to the electric mine truck during crucial times while fully loaded. It enables further reach and battery regeneration during drift.
“Over the past three years, we have worked in close collaboration with the ABB and Epiroc teams to bring the electric mine of the future one step closer. The most important thing for us is that the technology works in our own operations, but we also see added value that we can drive technology development so that the system can be used in other mines.”
Boliden general manager Peter Bergman
Significance
This ground-breaking pilot project in Boliden’s Kristineberg mine signifies a crucial milestone for the mining industry amid the increasing efforts to cut carbon emissions and energy consumption in the overall operation.
“We launched the ABB eMine concept of methods and solutions to bring electrification to the whole mining operation, from the grid to the wheel, and the installation at Kristineberg demonstrates the power of these capabilities.”
ABB global business line manager Max Luedtke
The IEA forecasts that the demand for key minerals to support the shift to clean energy will surge by 1.5 to 7 times by 2030. Therefore, it is really crucial for the mining industry to electrify.
According to the partners, their electric truck trolley system aims to demonstrate that it can reduce emissions, noise, vibration, and total cost/ton.
Boliden aims to launch a full-scale, autonomous electric trolley system in the Rävliden mine with an order for four new Epiroc Minetruck MT42 SG Trolley trucks.
