Techno-economic analysis of application of alternative energy solutions in remote mining operations

无法接入北美电网和天然气管道的偏远采矿作业严重依赖化石燃料发电。这种依赖不仅增加了他们的运营成本，使矿场受到燃料供应和价格波动的影响，而且还导致了大量的碳足迹。可再生能源系统提供了一个独特的解决方案，因为它们减少了对化石燃料的依赖，同时显著降低了碳排放。远程离网采矿作业中可再生能源渗透的主要障碍是前期成本较高以及长期经济和技术可行性的不确定性。Fireweed锌业有限公司是一家加拿大采矿和勘探公司，正在对其在育空地区的一处地产进行初步经济评估，并打算探索替代能源解决方案，为其潜在的矿区提供电力。该项目位于偏远地区，无法接入该省的电网，因此提供了一个独特的机会来探索使用可再生能源技术来部分或全部抵消化石燃料发电。英属哥伦比亚大学（University of BritishColumbia）和Fireweed Zinc Ltd.的专家认为，使用混合能源系统应该能为矿区提供足够的电力，并取代污染更严重的柴油发电机组。因此，Fireweed Zinc有限公司要求英属哥伦比亚大学的研究人员帮助他们对这种混合能源系统进行技术经济分析。Fireweed锌业有限公司有兴趣在偏远采矿作业中实施该研究项目的结果。Fireweed Zinc有限公司的专家和英属哥伦比亚大学的研究人员将通过一项全面的技术经济可行性研究，合作改进这项新颖但尚不成熟的技术。将根据其现场能源生产方法和相关成本来研究正在运营的偏远矿山的能源概况，以便更好地了解和塑造未来解决方案的性质。通过

Remote mining operations that have no access to the North American electrical grid and natural gas pipelinesrely heavily on fossil based power generation. Not only does this reliance increase their operating costs andsubject the mine-sites to fuel supply and price volatility, but it also results a substantial carbon footprint.Renewable energy systems offer a unique solution, as they reduce reliance on fossil fuels, as well assignificantly lower carbon emissions. The main barriers to greater renewable energy penetration at remoteoff-grid mining operations are higher upfront costs and uncertainty over long-term economic and technologicalviability.Fireweed Zinc Ltd., a Canadian based mining and exploration company, is conducting a preliminary economicassessment on one of their properties in the Yukon territory, and is intent on exploring alternative energysolutions to supply power to their prospective mine-site. The site is in a remote location, without access to theprovince's electrical grid, therefore a unique opportunity is presented to explore the use of renewable energytechnologies to partially, or fully, offset fossil based power generation. Experts at the University of BritishColumbia and Fireweed Zinc Ltd. believe that using a hybrid energy system should sufficiently supply power tothe mine-site, and replace use of the far more polluting diesel generating-sets. Therefore, Fireweed Zinc Ltd.has asked researchers at the University of British Columbia to help them with conducting the techno-economicanalysis of this hybrid energy system. Fireweed Zinc Ltd. is interested in implementing the result of thisresearch project in remote mining operations.Experts at Fireweed Zinc Ltd. and researchers at the University of British Columbia will work collaborativelyto improve this novel, yet immature technology with a comprehensive techno-economic feasibility study.Energy profiles of operating remote mines will be studied in terms of their on-site energy generationmethodology and associated costs, to better perceive and shape the nature of prospective solutions. By