What does decarbonizing mining look like?
We know reducing carbon emissions is important—but how are mine sites around the world taking steps to shrink their carbon footprint?
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With ambitious 2050 decarbonization goals, many companies have 2030 target marks to see if they’re on track. What are companies doing now to ready the critical minerals needed for the energy transition, reduce carbon emissions, replace conventional energy sources, and remove carbon from the atmosphere?
Australia
High Purity Alumina Definitive Feasibility Study
Alumina is used to produce lithium-ion batteries and scratch-resistant glass. This demonstration plant processes 20 kg (44 lb) batches at a time.
Mineral Type: Alumina
Canada
Nickel Rim South
Nickel is required to create stainless steel and lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles. Deemed a critical mineral, it is crucial to the energy transition.
Mineral Type: Nickel
United States
Feasibility study for Resolution Copper
The proposed mine could supply up to 25% of annual US copper demand. Copper is required to produce electric vehicles, batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines.
Mineral Type: Copper
Ready minerals
Our transition away from fossil fuels can’t happen without mining. The mining industry produces the raw materials and critical minerals that we need to build solar panels, electric cars, and wind turbines.
Ghana
Gold Mine Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Made recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including energy efficiency and decarbonization of the energy used.
Mineral Type: Gold
Canada
Coal Mine Operator Natural Gas and Carbon Dioxide Recovery
Reviewed, assessed, and made recommendations to reduce and provide mitigation approaches for greenhouse gas emissions.
Mineral Type: Coal
United States
Automated Heavy Electric Vehicle (HEV) Prefeasibility Study
Evaluating automated HEV options on the road to safer, cleaner mines.
Mineral Type: N/A
Reduce emissions
There are lots of ways mine sites can reduce the amount of energy used on a site. A few examples are: utilize conveyor belts underground instead of vehicles, improve ventilation so air flows with less energy required to move it, and use Smart infrastructure–real-time control of systems (loT).
Australia
Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid Project
Reducing carbon emissions at two blue-chip iron ore mines with the delivery of gas-fired and solar-generated power.
Mineral Type: Iron
Australia
Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Energy Storage
Exploring pumped hydro energy storage for the end of mine lifecycle and the opportunity to restore the area to a safe, stable, and self-sustaining condition.
Mineral Type: Gold
Australia
The Northern Goldfields Solar Project
The development and execution of two solar farms and a battery energy storage system, delivering lower-carbon, sustainable nickel.
Mineral Type: Nickel
Replace energy sources
One way to reduce carbon emissions is to replace conventional energy sources with cleaner sources. Many mine sites have developed their own renewable energy systems to reduce gasoline and diesel consumption.
N/A
Blog
Carbon Sequestration and Remote Monitoring
Remote sensing—via planes, drones, and satellites—offers a quicker, less costly way to count the benefits of carbon sequestration.
Carbon in plants
Australia
N/A
Blog
Carbon Sequestration Potential
Analyzing options for carbon sequestration through vegetation and soil in Western Australia.
Carbon in soil
Australia
Digital Tool
Mapping Geospatial Data
Stantec’s ExtractX™ remote-sensing tool can measure growth of trees over time, providing important data on a forest’s rising value as a carbon sink.
1'' Min. Resolution
Remove carbon
Mining companies can remove carbon from the atmosphere through carbon sinks or sequestration. Natural resource-based industries can utilize their large swaths of land for storing carbon in both plants and soil. Remote sensing—via planes, drones, and satellites—offers a quick way to measure carbon sequestration in vegetation.