The Australian Renewable Energy Agency says it is providing a $9 million grant to help an Australian company develop a unique “hammer and rail” dynamic charging technology for giant mining haul trucks.
Under the agreement, the Queensland-based BluVein will develop and trial a 40 to 60 tonne prototype truck that will be integrated with its rail-based charging technology, and it will trial the technology at Heidelberg’s Wolffdene quarry on the Old Coast in Queensland.
The initial system, and underground mine trucks, will be scaled at 1 MW, while open cut mines with bigger 240 tonne haul trucks will eventually feature an 8 MW charging system that allows them to charge while in motion.
“Australia’s heavy industries are a major source of emissions and energy use. If we’re serious about hitting our climate targets, we need bold solutions,” ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said in a statement.
“BluVein’s innovative hammer and rail technology could offer a solution for Australia’s reliance on billions of litres of diesel fuel by using renewable energy delivered through the grid to power mining haul trucks.”
The BluVein system is markedly different to that being developed for other miners, such as Fortescue Metals, which is investing more than $4 billion in giant haul trucks and other electric mining equipment, including excavators, but is working on its own proprietary 6 MW charging solutions.
BluVein says its hammer and rail system enhances worker safety through its protected rail design, and says it will be able to adapt to any mine layout.
It says the enclosed electrified e-rail system is mounted above or beside mining vehicles, while the Hammer connects the electric vehicle to the Rail.
BlueVein says it reduces the size of onboard batteries, eliminates the need for battery swaps or charging stops, and allows for more payload. It says mining giants BHP, Rio Tinto, Vale and Newcrest, among others, have shown interest in the technology.
“The BluVein technology consists of a smart connector that’s mounted to the truck and an overhead or side mounted rail system that carries the power onto the truck and powers the drives, as well as charging the batteries while the truck is in motion,” CEO James Oliver said at a media event on Thursday.
“That saves both downtime for charging it increases production over diesel vehicles, and it’s got the potential to save 5 million litres plus of diesel in mining haulage per annum in Australia alone.
“This funding from ARENA and the federal government enables BluVein to extend this test track, push us into a commercial reality and show the industry what the future of electrified mining looks like.”
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of The Driven, and also edits and founded the Renew Economy and One Step Off The Grid web sites. He has been a journalist for nearly 40 years, is a former business and deputy editor of the Australian Financial Review, and owns a Tesla Model 3.