POWER

Remote mines could be powered by straw

Remote mines could soon access baseload electricity from biomass plants powered by straw

Staff reporter
A straw burning generator could potentially provide miners with a competitively priced power source

A straw burning generator could potentially provide miners with a competitively priced power source

Yorke Biomass Energy is building a demonstration plant in South Australia to illustrate how a straw burning generator can provide miners with a competitively priced power source for the first 10-20MW of power, according to The Lead South Australia.

The plant, expected to be operational next year, is in the heart of Yorke Peninsula, a major grain-growing region with a rich mining history.

Terry Kallis, chairman of Yorke Biomass Energy, told the 2017 South Australian Resources and Energy Investment Conference in Adelaide that the technology would be ideal for new mining projects in farming areas.

He said: "This energy approach provides a mutually beneficial outcome for mining and farming communities and increases local economic activity through the collection, transport and storage of biomass fuel stock. There is a substantial stubble resource within a 50km radius of the proposed plant site and the stubble has a preferred moisture content of just 15%."

The Ardrossan plant is modelled on existing plants operated by Acciona in Spain and is expected should require around 90,000t/y of straw from local farms.

Kallis explained: "These power plants present opportunity for mutually exclusive feedstock supply agreements and profit sharing arrangements with local farmers. An open book process can be used to negotiate their supply price per tonne. The Ardrossan plant may also have the capacity to supply local domestic customers in the broader Ardrossan footprint."

The demonstration plant is near the proposed Rex Minerals Hillside copper and gold project. The adjacent Eyre Peninsula is also emerging as a mining hub with several graphite mines and the Iron Road project expected to begin operation in the coming years.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions