Actualizing remote renewable energy for mines: a case study of Rio Tinto’s QMM mine in Madagascar скачать в хорошем качестве

Actualizing remote renewable energy for mines: a case study of Rio Tinto’s QMM mine in Madagascar

On the southern coast of Madagascar, in the remote town of Fort Dauphin, CrossBoundary Energy’s solar and battery energy storage hybrid is already having a positive impact on Rio Tinto’s mining operations. In 2021, the mining company signed an agreement with CBE to supply power to the mine via a renewable energy hybrid system of around 30 MW, consisting of solar PV and wind energy, with an additional battery energy storage facility of 16.5 MWh. Logistically, planning and constructing a large renewable energy plant in a remote location can be a challenge, but CBE’s supply chain and project management teams have been dedicated to mitigating hurdles and ensuring timely delivery of the project. The first phase of the renewable energy facility, operating for about a year, comprises 14,640 solar panels generating 8MW and an 8MWh battery energy storage system. The second phase of the project will include the expansion of the solar farm by 6MW, an 8MWh battery energy storage system, and the construction of Madagascar’s first wind farm, a 19-turbine facility with a capacity of 16MW. The construction of the second phase of the project is already underway and is likely to be completed by late 2024.