Remote mining operations requires power beyond the production area. Exploration camps, temporary offices, communications equipment and construction support facilities often operate with limited access to the power grid. Their location and electricity demand can also change as projects develop.
Diesel generators currently are the main source of energy for the facilities, but their operation requires fuel transportation and storage, regular maintenance and the management of noise and local emissions. Integrating photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery storage can help reduce generator runtime while supporting the power requirements.
GCL System Integration Technology Co Ltd (GCL SI), based in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, developed EcoPower Mate for temporary and remote industrial worksites. The relocatable solar power platform integrates with a battery energy storage system (BESS) and existing diesel generators, which are coordinated by the energy management system (EMS).
Potential applications include camps, temporary offices, lighting, communications equipment and surveillance systems. EcoPower Mate can also serve selected auxiliary loads at exploration sites, drilling support areas and road construction projects.
Load profiles vary across these facilities. Offices may consume most of their electricity during the day, while lighting and monitoring equipment may need to operate overnight. EcoPower Mate can be configured to meet each site’s power demand and backup power requirements.
When solar power is available, PV generation can supply site loads, with surplus power available to charge the battery. The battery can discharge when PV output is insufficient, while diesel generators provide additional power as required. The EMS coordinates PV generation, battery charging and discharging, and generator operation according to site demand and system settings.
This arrangement allows mine owners and operators to introduce PV generation and battery storage while retaining their existing diesel generation infrastructure.
A temporary camp with relatively low overnight demand illustrates how this arrangement can work. Battery storage could supply selected lighting and communications loads for part of the night, allowing the generator to shut down where battery capacity, inverter capability and control settings allow the system to operate without the generator.
During the following day, PV generation could supply site loads and recharge the battery, depending on solar availability and electricity demand.
Fewer generator operating hours can reduce fuel consumption and maintenance requirements linked to engine runtime. Lower fuel consumption can also reduce the volume that needs to be transported and stored. Generator shutdown periods can reduce noise and exhaust near accommodation and office areas.
The extent of these benefits depends on the site’s load profile, solar resource, system sizing and operating strategy. Fuel and maintenance savings therefore need to be assessed for each project.
For exploration teams and mining contractors, the duration of work at each location is an important consideration when selecting power equipment. A PV installation needs to fit both the current site and the project’s relocation plans.
EcoPower Mate’s PV array can be transported in a format suitable for containerised transport deployed close to the loads it supplies and relocated as operational requirements change. This allows the same equipment to serve successive camps and work areas.
The portfolio includes wheeled and rail-mounted configurations. The wheeled WG20-A model has an installed PV capacity of 46.56 kWp and features an automated deployment mechanism for sites requiring frequent relocation. The rail-mounted model is intended for larger installations and projects that remain at one location for longer periods.
Configuration and deployment planning take account of terrain, available space, project duration, relocation frequency and site-preparation requirements. Transport access and electrical connections also need to be considered before moving the system.
GCL SI is engaging with Indonesian mine owners, mining contractors, equipment rental companies and local partners to address power requirements at temporary and remote facilities.
Discussions will focus on load profiles, existing generator capacity and operation, fuel logistics, solar resources and relocation requirements. GCL SI’s technical and service teams will work with project owners and partners on system configuration, equipment delivery, integration and after-sales support.
For mining projects that move between locations, GCL SI EcoPower Mate offers a way to add PV generation and storage to existing power systems and redeploy the equipment as work progresses.
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