Hitachi Energy chosen for Charge On Innovation Challenge to electrify mines

Photo: Hitachi Energy

Hitachi Energy, a global technology provider serving customers in the utility, industry and infrastructure sectors, has been selected as a technology vendor in the Charge On Innovation Challenge, an initiative that seeks to accelerate commercialization of effective decarbonization solutions in mining. Founded by BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale, and joined by with multiple industry patrons, the challenge seeks to unite the world’s mining industry to solve one of the industry’s biggest obstacles in the transition toward a carbon-neutral future: the electrification of haul trucks.

Facilitated by Austmine, the global initiative is for technology innovators to develop concepts for large-scale haul truck electrification systems to help the mining sector reduce its consumption of diesel fuel and significantly cut emissions from surface mine operations. Eight technology innovators’ submissions have been selected to progress beyond the Charge On Innovation Challenge, including the one submitted by Hitachi Energy.

“Hitachi Energy’s proposal is for an innovative haul truck 24/7 electrification solution that will help the world’s mining industry to decarbonize without compromising on productivity,” explained Gerhard Salge, CTO of Hitachi Energy, in announcing the proposal’s selection. “Electricity will be the backbone of the entire energy system and together with customers and partners, Hitachi Energy is pioneering technologies and software for advancing a sustainable energy future for all.”

The flexible end-to-end solution would connect the mine’s electrical grid directly to its haul trucks and other equipment, such as excavators. At its core is Grid-eMotion Flash, a sustainable e-mobility solution that will enable the haul trucks’ batteries to be rapidly and safely recharged.

Features of the solution include the ability to:

• Deliver 8 MW of power that enables vehicles to be charged in just a few minutes in a safe way at the points of loading and unloading; flash charging means trucks can operate 24/7
• Deliver an interoperable, flexible Energy Transfer System (ETS) that is free of any catenary infrastructure and that can easily adapt to mine site changes over time
• Provide dynamic energy management to increase reliability, resiliency and power quality as mining operations transition to broader electrification including their larger haul trucks
• Achieve greater levels of sustainability while maintaining core operating practices and productivity of the mine

To further optimize energy use across the mine, Hitachi Energy is also able to deliver a full solution, including e-mesh digital solutions for e-mobility; a holistic and detailed monitoring and control solution for the charging process and the grid connection system; and a range of available remote and onsite services to support the transition to the new technologies and efficient operation of the new infrastructure.

Noaman Amjad, chief marketing and sales officer of Hitachi Energy, stated: “We are very pleased to have been selected as one of the winning proposals and that Hitachi Energy’s solution has been recognized as meeting with the spirit of interoperability as requested by the patrons. We intend to make our solution available to all truck OEMs interested – a solution that’s built on the solid competence and deep insight of our mining, e-mobility, digital and power systems experts and that will lead to the electrification and decarbonization of mining.”

Other technology innovators selected to move beyond the Charge On Innovation Challenge include ABB, Ampcontrol and Tritium (Australia), BluVein XL, DB Engineering & Consulting with Echion Technologies, Shell Consortium, Siemens Off-board power supply and 3ME Technology.