Key Points
- Mines can capture waste heat and store it for renewable energy use.
- Thermal energy storage offers environmental and economic benefits.
- Mining supports clean energy technologies by producing essential raw materials.
In order to replace the gaps in renewable energy when the sun or wind aren’t shining, mines are being urged to capture and store the heat that is squandered during the mineral processing process.
Mines encouraged to store waste heat for renewable energy use
In a recent Zoom interview with Mining Weekly, Dr Martin Schichtel, co-founder and CEO of Kraftblock, talked about the financial advantages of putting such systems in place.
By separating the production of renewable energy from demand and releasing stored green electrons when and where they are needed, Kraftblock’s high-temperature thermal energy storage technology contributes to decarbonisation.
Rethinking heat can help mining operations reach a new level of sustainability, according to Schichtel, whose company specialises in high-temperature energy storage.
“Previously less well-known options, such as high-temperature energy storage, are now available on the market. Schichtel stated, “We can use them today to make processes cleaner.”
According to mining weekly, these technologies make it possible to reuse waste heat from high-temperature activities and convert renewable electricity into useable heat.
Mining’s role in the clean energy transition grows
An essential component of the energy transition is the mining sector. In addition to graphite and lithium for storage systems, mining provides vital elements like copper and aluminium for solar energy and wind turbines. Schichtel underlined that the mining industry needs to lower emissions and increase energy efficiency.
Energy generation and demand can be separated thanks to thermal storage devices, which act as a buffer by storing heat. Because of this, they are very helpful for controlling erratic renewable energy sources like wind and solar.
In order to absorb waste heat that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, Kraftblock started its first project five years ago in the ceramics industry using thermal storage.
The company decreased pollutants, increased energy efficiency, and improved the quality of ceramic items by storing and reusing this heat.Â
Systems for thermal energy recovery usually pay for themselves in one to three years. However, depending on the price differential between gas and renewable energy, electrification of heat can take longer. These systems typically pay for themselves in three to six years in places where renewable energy is affordable, such as Australia, California, southern Europe, and Spain.
Extracting raw materials for low-carbon technologies and reducing hazardous emissions during manufacturing are the two main issues facing the mining industry. Significant energy needs are produced by high-temperature smelting and refining operations. High-temperature energy storage presents a viable way to solve this issue and increase the sustainability of mining operations.
