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<\/p>\n\n\nA trio of top global mining operators \u2013 BHP, Rio Tinto and Vale \u2013 have come together on a mission crucial to the future of mining with the launch of the Charge On Innovation Challenge, a competition inviting innovators from across the world to develop new design concepts for haul truck electrification systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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The contest, open now, aims to help significantly reduced surface mining operation emissions as well as boost improvements in safety, productivity and operations. The three operators are the founding patrons of the competition alongside Australia\u2019s Mining Equipment, Technology and Services (METS) group Austmine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Austmine said the challenge should attract interest from resource companies with substantial haul truck fleets that are looking for new concepts that will bring electricity to large battery-electric machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCurrent stationary charging systems require substantial time to charge large trucks, which would result in significant lost productivity,\u201d the companies said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe mining industry needs multi-megawatt scale fast charging concepts capable of delivering around 400 kWh to charge (and propel) a truck within the truck\u2019s haul cycle (load, travel, dump, return, queue).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Austmine CEO Christine Gibbs Stewart, 80% of METS companies supply products and services outside mining, so the challenge leverages their experience and innovation as well \u2013 from areas of industry such as automotive, battery makers, aerospace, defence and other sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are confident that we will find a solution to the delivery of electricity to trucks in the complex operating environment of a large surface mine,\u201d the CEO said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe expect the challenge will attract companies from a broad range of sectors\u2026to deliver selected charging concepts to create a standard product that can interface with all trucks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
President of BHP Minerals Australia Edgar Basto added: \u201cWe expect the Challenge will stimulate innovative ideas, some of which could be immediately applied to existing diesel-electric equipment and help fast-track implementation of longer-term solutions. We understand that these challenges will not be solved overnight, but together we can find the best concepts that can be applied across the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rio Tinto Group Executive Safety, Technical and Projects Mark Davies called the competition a \u201cglobal call-out\u201d for innovators with the potential to change hoe haul trucks operate across mining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInnovation is the key to decarbonization, and we expect the challenge will deliver exciting new concepts that could drive huge long-term benefits for our industry and the environment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All of the groups involved stress that the mining industry must be at the forefront of taking on climate change, and the Charge On Innovation Challenge is an example of great collaborative work in that direction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They point out that, in addition to providing a zero-carbon energy source, the conversion of mobile mining equipment to battery-electric can potentially unlock value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSeveral non-traditional mining sector vendors are actively developing technologies that can be applied to mine electrification. The Challenge is expected to demonstrate an emerging market for charging solutions in mining, accelerate commercialisation of solutions, and integrate innovations from other industries into the mining sector,\u201d the companies said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Challenge Expression of Interest process is currently open. Candidates who make the short list will pitch their concepts later this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n